I. |irə|des ə nt adjective
Etymology: irid- + -escent
1. : having iridescence : showing colors like those of the rainbow especially in shifting patterns of hues and shades that vary with a change of light or point of view
a beetle with an iridescent back
as softly iridescent as the rays from a jewel — Ellen Glasgow
smart, lean glass towers with iridescent washrooms — Brooks Atkinson
crunchy, iridescent , lovely snow — Elaine W. Neal
: nacreous , opalescent
2.
a. : having a gleaming or glittering quality suggestive of the phenomenon of iridescence : brilliant , flashing
two wickedly witty and iridescent novels — Time
a man for whom the map of the present was always iridescent with the glories of the past — H.C.Wolfe
his iridescent performance as an art, music, and drama critic — John Mason Brown
b. : having the constantly shifting fluid character of an iridescence
the life of iridescent revery — Edmund Wilson
that iridescent play of meanings — Susanne K. Langer
3. of a fabric : changeable 4
curtains of an iridescent material, purple in one light, golden brown in another — Howard Moss
a filmy iridescent green carpet — American Guide Series: Tennessee
II. noun
( -s )
: an iridescent fabric, trimming, or accessory
the green-blue iridescents are featured in rayon organdy for a party dress — Women's Wear Daily