noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˌɪɹ.ɪˈdɛs.əns/
rhymes with -ɛsəns
1
noun
Meaning 1
The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Any shimmer of glittering and changeable colors.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
the visual property of something having a milky brightness and a play of colors from the surface
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: opalescence
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: brightness
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
28 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
iridescència
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
French:
iridescence
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
German:
Irideszenz
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
German:
Schillern in Regenbogenfarben
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
German:
Irisieren
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Italian:
iridescenza
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Korean:
훈색
(hunsaek)
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Occitan:
iridescéncia
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Occitan:
irizacion
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Occitan:
mirgalhadura
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Polish:
iryzacja
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Polish:
tęczowanie
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Polish:
opalizacja
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Portuguese:
iridescência
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Russian:
иризация
(irizacija)
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Spanish:
iridiscencia
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Swedish:
regnbågsskimmer
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Swedish:
irisering
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Tagalog:
silak
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Tagalog:
kasilakan
— The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
Bulgarian:
блясък
(bljasǎk)
— Any shimmer of glittering and changeable colors
Bulgarian:
преливане на цветове
(prelivane na cvetove)
— Any shimmer of glittering and changeable colors
Occitan:
iridescéncia
— Any shimmer of glittering and changeable colors
Occitan:
mirgalhadura
— Any shimmer of glittering and changeable colors
Occitan:
mirgalhadís
— Any shimmer of glittering and changeable colors
Polish:
mienienie się
— Any shimmer of glittering and changeable colors
Volapük:
kölamufät
— Any shimmer of glittering and changeable colors
Welsh:
symudliwiad
— Any shimmer of glittering and changeable colors
