iridescence

noun ir·i·des·cence \ ˌir-ə-ˈde-sᵊn(t)s \

|Updated on: 20 May 2018

Definition of iridescence

1 : a lustrous rainbowlike play of color caused by differential refraction of light waves (as from an oil slick, soap bubble, or fish scales) that tends to change as the angle of view changes

2 : a lustrous or attractive quality or effect

See iridescence defined for kids

Recent Examples of iridescence from the Web

The new Honor 10 exhibits the same design philosophy as the P20 Pro: ugly notch on the front, stunning blue-purple iridescence on the back.

— vlad savov, The Verge, "The Honor 10 is exactly the budget Huawei P20 Pro we were expecting," 15 May 2018
This 161-million-year-old fossil is the oldest example of iridescence in a feathered dinosaur yet discovered.

— kristin hugo, Newsweek, "Feathered Dinosaur Shimmered Like a Rainbow, Fossil Reveals," 15 Jan. 2018
The entire cocoon, or chrysalis, will then be veiled in a shroud of clear balloons with a hint of iridescence.

— lisa deaderick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Top weekend events: Martin Luther King Jr. parade, 'Crystal Cortex,' Karl Denson's Tiny Universe," 12 Jan. 2018
Perhaps the same is true for other butterflies like morphos and pipevine swallowtails, which have independently evolved blue iridescence.

— ed yong, The Atlantic, "Scientists Can Now Repaint Butterfly Wings," 18 Sep. 2017
There are three iterations of this Ciaté Dewy Stix — a pinky iridescence, an opalescent champagne shimmer, and a translucent glow.

— sable yong, Allure, "7 Highlighters That Will Make You Look As Good As These Glazed Donuts," 27 Oct. 2017
The song ended with Ms. Fleming humming, the effect one of private iridescence.

— corinna da fonseca-wollheim, New York Times, "Review: Renée Fleming at Carnegie, Between Opera and ‘Carousel’," 24 Oct. 2017
At first, they were puzzled because the iridescence is inconsistent—strong in some species, but weak in others.

— ed yong, The Atlantic, "Flowers Have Secret Blue Halos That Bumblebees Can See," 18 Oct. 2017
Total transparency is an illusion, especially in energy-efficient buildings, and here much of the glass skin stretches tightly over sections of opaque wall, giving the building a striated iridescence.

— justin davidson, Daily Intelligencer, "The Views (Real and Virtual) From Cornell Tech," 13 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'iridescence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.