iris

The iris is defined as the colored part of the eye around the pupil, the name of a woman, or a three-petal flower with sword-shaped leaves.

(noun)

An example of an iris is the part of the eye that opens and closes to control how much light enters the pupil.
An example of an iris is a blue flower with three petals, each with a sepal, on a stock growing with long pointed leaves.

The definition of iris is being of the family of plants known as Iridaceace.

(adjective)

An example of iris used as an adjective is in the phrase "iris family," which means a flower from this family such as an iris, a lily or a gladiolus.

See iris in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. irises

a rainbow
a rainbowlike show or play of colors
the round, pigmented membrane surrounding the pupil of the eye, having muscles that adjust the size of the pupil to regulate the amount of light entering the eye
any of a large genus (Iris) of perennial plants of the iris family, with sword-shaped leaves and conspicuous flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals of widely varying color
the flower of these plants

Origin: LME < L < Gr iris (gen. iridos) < IE *wir- (> wire) < base *wei-, to turn, bend

adjective

designating a family (Iridaceae, order Liliales) of monocotyledonous plants, including crocuses and gladioluses

noun

a feminine name
Gr. Myth. the goddess of the rainbow: in the Iliad, she is the messenger of the gods

Origin: L < Gr Iris: see iris

See iris in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. i·ris·es or i·ri·des (īˈrĭ-dēzˌ, ĭrˈĭ-)

The pigmented, round, contractile membrane of the eye, suspended between the cornea and lens and perforated by the pupil. It regulates the amount of light entering the eye.
Any of numerous plants of the genus Iris, having narrow sword-shaped leaves and showy, variously colored flowers.
A rainbow or rainbowlike display of colors.
An iris diaphragm.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, iris (the plant)

Origin: , from Latin īris, īrid-, rainbow, iris (the plant)

Origin: , from Greek, rainbow, brightly-colored gemstone, iris of the eye; see wei- in Indo-European roots

noun
Greek Mythology

The goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods.

Origin:

Origin: Latin Īris

Origin: , from Greek

Origin: , from īris, rainbow; see wei- in Indo-European roots

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iris synonyms