iris Hear it!

iris definition

iris (īris)

noun pl. irises i′ris·es

  1. a rainbow
  2. a rainbowlike show or play of colors
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. the flower of these plants

Etymology: 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
Iris definition

Iris (īris)

noun

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

Etymology: L < Gr Iris: see iris

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.