I. ˈī-rəs noun
( plural iris·es also iri·des ˈī-rə-ˌdēz, ˈir-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 Latin]
: 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
]
II. transitive verb
Date: 1816
: to make iridescent