iris
iris Lexical Profile
iris Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The flat, colored, ring-shaped membrane behind the cornea of the eye, containing muscles that regulate the size of the pupil and the amount of light entering.
"The optometrist noted the striking golden flecks in the blue iris of her patient's left eye."
A plant of a widespread genus (Iris) native to the North Temperate Zone, characterized by long, sword-shaped leaves and large, showy, typically brightly colored flowers.
"Every spring, the garden comes alive with a stunning display of purple and yellow irises."
An adjustable mechanical diaphragm consisting of thin overlapping plates, used in cameras and other optical instruments to regulate the aperture and control the amount of light admitted.
"The photographer manually adjusted the camera's iris to increase the depth of field in the bright sunlight."
• verb
To open or close in the manner of an iris diaphragm (often used in cinematography or science fiction contexts).
"The heavy metallic doors irised open rapidly to reveal a brightly lit, circular corridor."
Word Nuance & Usage
While the standard English plural is 'irises', the Latinate plural 'irides' is still occasionally encountered in strict medical or anatomical contexts when referring to the eye.
• Rhymes for iris
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English, derived from Latin 'iris', which in turn comes from Greek 'ĩris', meaning 'rainbow'. It originally referred to the Greek goddess of the rainbow and was later applied to the eye, the flower, and certain crystals due to their brilliant, multicolored appearance.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.