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
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Noun
This solid version is similarly lush, infusing a base of rose wax with the signature floral bouquet—think lily, iris, peony, and tons of slightly spice rose—along with vanilla and Tonka bean.—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2025 Consider growing summer-blooming bulbs, corms, and tubers, including agapanthus, begonias, caladiums, calla lilies, canna lilies, dahlias, daylilies, gladiolus, iris, lilies and watsonias.—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025 The circle will have a white, light gray, or blue hue that will be visible within the eye, regardless of the color of the iris.—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2025 While the irises are the stars of the show, they’re all set against a backdrop of other beautiful perennials like lupine, allium, poppies, and delphinium.—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for iris
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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