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
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.
For the part of the eye, the usual medical plural is irides.
For the flower both iris and irises are in common use.
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.
• Siri
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.
• Siri
IRIs
plural of IRI
• Siri
Source: Wiktionary
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
19 June 2025
(noun) the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage; “his roots in Texas go back a long way”; “he went back to Sweden to search for his roots”; “his music has African roots”
Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.
