iris

plural irises · plural irides

1. biologyA plant of the genus Iris, common in the northern hemisphere, and generally having attractive blooms (See Iris (plant) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia ).

   1 more example

   Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of mauve-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines.

   1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “Afterglow”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 168

   Synonyms: fleur-de-lis

2. anatomyThe contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, which adjusts to control the amount of light reaching the retina, and which forms the colored portion of the eye (See Iris (anatomy) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia ).
3. artsA diaphragm used to regulate the size of a hole, especially as a way of controlling the amount of light reaching a lens.
4. poeticA rainbow, or other colourful refraction of light.
5. businessA constricted opening in the path inside a waveguide, used to form a resonator.
6. biologyThe inner circle of an oscillated color spot.

present singular third person irises · participle present irising · participle past irised · past irised

1. lens; or door; lens; or doorTo open or close in the manner of an iris.
2. literaryTo cause (something) to shine with the colours of the rainbow; to make iridescent.

   Pure, transparent, glistening in the sun, and irised by a thousand hues, which float and wave and spread in graceful and ceaseless motion on its surface!

   1834, Jacob Abbott, chapter 1, in The Corner-Stone, Boston: William Peirce, page 31

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   The sun as it comes indoors out of space Has left a rainbow irising each glass— A refraction, caught then multiplied From the crystal tied within our window,

   1987, Charles Tomlinson, “Winter Journey”, in The Return, Oxford University Press, page 35

   Synonyms: iridize

1. Greekhuman sciencesA messenger of the gods, and goddess of rainbows.

   What's the matter, That this distemper'd messenger of wet, The many-colour'd Iris, rounds thine eye?

   c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

2. A female given name from Ancient Greek; a flower name used since the end of the 19th century.

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   Persia tells Iris she is named for something special: the iris of the eye. "I thought I was named for a flower," Iris says, disappointed. "An iris is a flower, of course," Persia says, smiling, "but it's this other, too. Our secret. 'The iris of the eye'." "The eye?" Persia snaps her fingers in Iris's eyes. The gesture is so rude and unexpected, Iris will remember it all her life. After this disclosure, Iris doesn't know whether she likes her name any more.

   1990, Joyce Carol Oates, Because It Is Bitter, And Because It Is My Heart, →ISBN, page 39

3. astronomy7 Iris, a main belt asteroid.

1. pluralplural of IRI

1. abbreviationacronymuncountableAcronym of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.