iris Meaning & Definition
What Does Iris Mean?
Iris is used as a noun meaning A plant of the genus Iris, common in the northern hemisphere, and generally having attractive blooms (See Iris (plant) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia ). It is also used to mean 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 ). As a verb, it means To open or close in the manner of an iris. As a verb, it means (of an aperture, lens or door) To open or close in the manner of an iris.
Iris: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪ.ɹɪs/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | flag, sword lily and iris diaphragm |
| Plural | irises |
| Verb forms | irises, irising, irised |
Iris Definition (Noun)
- A plant of the genus Iris, common in the northern hemisphere, and generally having attractive blooms (See Iris (plant) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia ).
- 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 ).
- A diaphragm used to regulate the size of a hole, especially as a way of controlling the amount of light reaching a lens.
- A rainbow, or other colourful refraction of light.
- A constricted opening in the path inside a waveguide, used to form a resonator.
- The inner circle of an oscillated color spot.
Iris as a Verb
- To open or close in the manner of an iris.
- To cause (something) to shine with the colours of the rainbow; to make iridescent.
Noun
- A plant of the genus Iris, common in the northern hemisphere, and generally having attractive blooms (See Iris (plant)).
- 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)).
Verb
- (of an aperture, lens or door) To open or close in the manner of an iris.
Synonyms of Iris
Iris synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Iris
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Iris in a Sentence
No example sentences are available for this entry.
Word Forms & Grammar
iris (plural irises or iris or irides)
iris (third-person singular simple present irises, present participle irising, simple past and past participle irised)
Words That Rhyme With Iris
Origin of 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.
Iris Pronunciation
You say iris as /ˈaɪ.ɹɪs/. It has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (aɪ).
Common Questions About Iris
Is iris a noun or a verb?
Iris is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for iris?
Words with a similar meaning to iris include flag, sword lily and iris diaphragm. See the full list of iris synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of iris?
The plural of iris is irises.
What is the past tense of iris?
The past tense of iris is irised. The present participle is irising.