iridescent

adjective ir·i·des·cent \ ˌir-ə-ˈde-sᵊnt \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of iridescent

: having or exhibiting iridescence

—

iridescently

adverb

See iridescent defined for English-language learners

See iridescent defined for kids

Recent Examples of iridescent from the Web

Instead of one color, Huawei has given this phone an iridescent gradient paint job that exudes sophistication.

— vlad savov, The Verge, "Huawei P20 Pro review: style and substance," 6 Apr. 2018
The drop is available in eight springy shades each more irresistibly iridescent than the next.

— marissa miller, Teen Vogue, "CoverGirl Launches New Melting Pout Holographic Lip Glosses," 2 Apr. 2018
This application technique helped create the dimensional look for the iridescent effect.

— devon abelman, Allure, ""Black Pearl" Hair Proves Muted Tones Are Spring's Biggest Hair-Color Trend," 2 Apr. 2018
Some of the most brilliant displays of color in the natural world, such as a peacock’s iridescent tail and the shimmering wings of the Morpho butterfly, are created not by pigments, but by the microscopic structure of feathers, scales, and skin.

— matt warren, Science | AAAS, "Watch a gel embedded with heart cells change color with every beat," 28 Mar. 2018
Peacock spiders, for example, rely on tiny iridescent scales when mating.

— kristin hugo, Newsweek, "Feathered Dinosaur Shimmered Like a Rainbow, Fossil Reveals," 15 Jan. 2018
Knotted, smooth maroon knuckles of Manzanita grew on either side of the trail, with iridescent green leaves.

— alli harvey, Anchorage Daily News, "A few days in the desert (with lots of sunscreen) is the perfect break from an Alaska winter," 22 Mar. 2018
Their confections—which shimmer with iridescent icing—are sweetened with raw cane sugar and filled with creole cream cheese ($24).

— ann mah, Bon Appetit, "Where to Mail-Order King Cakes for Mardi Gras," 13 Feb. 2018
Simon & the Whale, with 76 seats and some outdoor tables to come, has an Arts and Crafts look from the designers, Roman & Williams, with Japanese Iroko wood, iridescent teal tiles, green tufted upholstery and brass piping.

— florence fabricant, New York Times, "Simon & the Whale Opens in the Freehand New York," 30 Jan. 2018

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

Did You Know?

Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, took messages from Mount Olympus to earth, and from gods to mortals or other gods, using the rainbow as her stairway. Iridescence is thus the glowing, shifting, colorful quality of a rainbow, also seen in an opal, a light oil slick, a butterfly wing, or the mother-of-pearl that lines an oyster shell.