Main Entry:

¹iris

Pronunciation:

\ˈī-rəs\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural iris·es also iri·des \ˈī-rə-ˌdēz, ˈir-ə-\

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin irid-, iris rainbow, iris plant, from Greek, rainbow, iris plant, iris of the eye — more at wire

Date:

15th century

1: rainbow2 [New Latin irid-, iris, from Greek] a: the opaque contractile diaphragm perforated by the pupil and forming the colored portion of the eye — see eye illustration b: iris diaphragm ; also : a similar device with a circular opening that can be varied in size3also plural iris [New Latin Irid-, Iris, genus name, from Latin] : any of a large genus (Iris of the family Iridaceae, the iris family) of perennial herbaceous plants with linear usually basal leaves and large showy flowers

[iris illustration]