also: a similar device with a circular opening that can be varied in size
2
also plural iris: any of a large genus (Iris of the family Iridaceae, the iris family) of perennial herbaceous plants with linear usually basal leaves and large showy flowers
: the Greek goddess of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods
Examples of iris in a Sentence
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Noun
Bright, deep purple with luscious aromas of blackberry, black currant, mocha and purple iris, this is a wine of impressive ripeness and texture, backed by round, medium-full tannins and good balancing acidity.—Tom Hyland, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 To hide the withering foliage after the blooms are gone, plant phlox, iris, or catmint in the garden bed.—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2025 Editor’s tip: The addictive scent—which founder Jen Atkin named after Mercer Street in NYC—has notes of Italian lemon, Turkish rose, jasmine sambac, iris, lily, and white musk.—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 16 Feb. 2025 The irises are beginning to sprout through still-frozen ground, doggedly determined to usher in spring.—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for iris
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, "iris of the eye, the plant Iris germanica," borrowed from Latin īrid-, īris "rainbow, the plant Iris pallida or related species," borrowed from Greek īrid-, îris "rainbow, iridescent halo around the moon, a flame, etc., iris of the eye, the plant Iris pallida or related species," going back to *wīrid-, *wīris, of uncertain origin
Note:
Traditionally, Greek îris "rainbow" (for which an original digamma [letter representing the sound w] is assured by an inscription from Corinth and the metrics of epic poetry) has been regarded as a derivative of Indo-European *u̯ei̯H- "plait, wrap," parallel to Germanic *wīr- (see wire entry 1). However, the variant éris recorded by the Greek lexicographer Hesychius, as well as the dubious character of *wīrid- as an Indo-European formation (< *u̯ih1-r-i-?) has drawn this etymology into question. Perhaps a substratal word.
: the opaque muscular contractile diaphragm that is suspended in the aqueous humor in front of the lens of the eye, is perforated by the pupil and is continuous peripherally with the ciliary body, has a deeply pigmented posterior surface which excludes the entrance of light except through the pupil and a colored anterior surface which determines the color of the eyes
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