IRIS

iris, iris diaphragm

(noun) diaphragm consisting of thin overlapping plates that can be adjusted to change the diameter of a central opening

iris

(noun) muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil which in turn controls the amount of light that enters the eye; it forms the colored portion of the eye

iris, flag, fleur-de-lis, sword lily

(noun) plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

iris (plural irises or iris or irides) (See Usage notes)

(botany) A plant of the genus Iris, common in the northern hemisphere, and generally having attractive blooms (See ).

(anatomy) The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, which adjusts to control the amount of light reaching the retina, and which forms the colored portion of the eye (See ).

(photography, cinematography) A diaphragm used to regulate the size of a hole, especially as a way of controlling the amount of light reaching a lens.

(poetic) A rainbow, or other colourful refraction of light.

(electronics) A constricted opening in the path inside a waveguide, used to form a resonator.

(zoology) The inner circle of an oscillated color spot.

Usage notes

For the part of the eye, the usual medical plural is irides.

For the flower both iris and irises are in common use.

Verb

iris (third-person singular simple present irises, present participle irising, simple past and past participle irised)

(of an aperture, lens, or door) To open or close in the manner of an iris.

Anagrams

• Siri

Etymology

Proper noun

Iris

(Greek god) A messenger of the gods, and goddess of rainbows.

A female given name from Ancient Greek; a flower name used since the end of the 19th century.

(astronomy) 7 Iris, a main belt asteroid.

Anagrams

• Siri

Noun

IRIs

plural of IRI

Anagrams

• Siri

Source: Wiktionary

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I"ris, n.; pl. E. Irises, L. Irides. Etym: [L. iris, iridis, the goddess, Gr. Orris.]

1. (Class. Myth.)

Definition: The goddess of the rainbow, and swift-footed messenger of the gods. Shak.

2. The rainbow. Sir T. Browne.

3. An appearance resembling the rainbow; a prismatic play of colors. Tennyson.

4. (Anat.)

Definition: The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, and forming the colored portion of the eye. See Eye.

5. (Bot.)

Definition: A genus of plants having showy flowers and bulbous or tuberous roots, of which the flower-de-luce (fleur-de-lis), orris, and other species of flag are examples. See Illust. of Flower-de-luce.

6. (Her.)

Definition: See Fleur-de-lis, 2.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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