n.
Pronunciation: ' ī -r ə s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural iris · es also iri · des \ ' ī -r ə - ˌ d ē z, ' ir- ə - \
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin irid-, iris rainbow, iris plant, from Greek, rainbow, iris plant, iris of the eye ― more at WIRE
Date: 15th century
1 : RAINBOW
2 [New Latin irid-, iris, from Greek] a : the opaque contractile diaphragm perforated by the pupil and forming the colored portion of the eye ― see EYE illustration b : IRIS DIAPHRAGM also : a similar device with a circular opening that can be varied in size
3 also plural iris [New Latin Irid-, Iris, genus name, from L] : 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
iris 3