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Definition of xyris
xyris
/ˈzaɪ.rɪs/
xy · ris
Plural:xyrises
•Adjective:xyridaceous
xyris Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
13
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A plant belonging to a genus of herbaceous, aquatic or wetland-dwelling monocots in the family Xyridaceae, commonly known as yellow-eyed grasses, characterized by grass-like leaves and small yellow flowers clustered in tight cone-like heads.
Example
"The wetlands conservation team recorded several species of xyris blooming brightly along the acidic bog."
• Rhymes for xyris
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From New Latin Xyris, derived from the Ancient Greek 'xuris', a kind of iris with sharp leaves, which traces back to 'xuron' meaning 'razor', in reference to the plant's sharp leaf edges.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Xyris. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/xyris