also: a similar device with a circular opening that can be varied in size
2
also plural iris: 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
: the Greek goddess of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods
Examples of iris in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Its iris and suede aroma have a faint perfume scent, providing a much more pleasant experience for the senses.—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 11 July 2024 Consider this 2023 Best of Beauty winner as your secret weapon to achieving Twiggy's iconic finger-length lashes with an unconventional color that'll make your eyes stand out from the crowd, no matter what color your irises may be.—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 6 July 2024 Blood was visibly pooling at the bottom of his iris.—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 28 June 2024 The garden was designed for year-round color: peonies, irises and cherry blossoms in the spring, gardenia and English rose blooms in the summer, the foliage of Japanese maples in the fall, and daphne and Sasanqua Camellia trees in the winter.—Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 5 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for iris
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Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, "iris of the eye, the plant Iris germanica," borrowed from Latin īrid-, īris "rainbow, the plant Iris pallida or related species," borrowed from Greek īrid-, îris "rainbow, iridescent halo around the moon, a flame, etc., iris of the eye, the plant Iris pallida or related species," going back to *wīrid-, *wīris, of uncertain origin
Note:
Traditionally, Greek îris "rainbow" (for which an original digamma [letter representing the sound w] is assured by an inscription from Corinth and the metrics of epic poetry) has been regarded as a derivative of Indo-European *u̯ei̯H- "plait, wrap," parallel to Germanic *wīr- (see wire entry 1). However, the variant éris recorded by the Greek lexicographer Hesychius, as well as the dubious character of *wīrid- as an Indo-European formation (< *u̯ih1-r-i-?) has drawn this etymology into question. Perhaps a substratal word.
: the opaque muscular contractile diaphragm that is suspended in the aqueous humor in front of the lens of the eye, is perforated by the pupil and is continuous peripherally with the ciliary body, has a deeply pigmented posterior surface which excludes the entrance of light except through the pupil and a colored anterior surface which determines the color of the eyes
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