Standard Lemma guide
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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
name
A messenger of the gods, and goddess of rainbows.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Greek
Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A female given name from Ancient Greek; a flower name used since the end of the 19th century.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
7 Iris, a main belt asteroid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: astronomy, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A plant of the genus Iris, common in the northern hemisphere, and generally having attractive blooms (See Iris (plant) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia ).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: fleur-de-lis
Antonyms: none provided
noun
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 Iris (anatomy) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia ).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A diaphragm used to regulate the size of a hole, especially as a way of controlling the amount of light reaching a lens.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: arts, broadcasting, cinematography, film, hobbies, lifestyle, media, photography, television
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A rainbow, or other colourful refraction of light.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: poetic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A constricted opening in the path inside a waveguide, used to form a resonator.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: business, electrical-engineering, electricity, electromagnetism, electronics, energy, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The inner circle of an oscillated color spot.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences, zoology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
plural of IRI
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, plural
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Acronym of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To open or close in the manner of an iris.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: lens; or door; lens; or door
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To cause (something) to shine with the colours of the rainbow; to make iridescent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: literary
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: iridize
Antonyms: none provided
noun
diaphragm consisting of thin overlapping plates that can be adjusted to change the diameter of a central opening
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: iris diaphragm
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: diaphragm, stop
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
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: membrane, tissue layer
noun
plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: flag, fleur-de-lis, sword lily
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: iridaceous plant
Narrower terms: bearded iris, beardless iris, bulbous iris, dwarf iris, Iris cristata, stinking iris, gladdon, gladdon iris, stinking gladwyn, roast beef plant, Iris foetidissima, Persian iris, Iris persica, yellow iris, yellow flag, yellow water flag, Iris pseudacorus, vernal iris, Iris verna, blue flag, Iris versicolor, southern blue flag, Iris virginica, English iris, Iris xiphioides
History
From Ancient Greek Ἶρις (Îris, “rainbow”).
Etymology tree Ancient Greek ἶρις (îris)bor. Latin irisbor. English iris From Middle English iris, from Latin īris, from Ancient Greek ἶρις (îris, “rainbow”). Presuming an earlier form *ϝῖρις (*wîris), possibly from a derivative of Proto-Indo-European *w(e)ih1-ro- (“a twist, thread, cord, wire”), from *weh1y- (“to turn, twist, weave, plait”). If so, it would be cognate to English wire.
Across languages
185 source translations are retained for this English entry.
