Definitions for: Iris


[n] diaphragm consisting of thin overlapping plates that can be adjusted to change the diameter of a central opening
[n] muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil; it forms the colored portion of the eye
[n] plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals



Webster (1913) Definition: I"ris, n.; pl. E. Irises, L. Irides. [L. iris,
iridis, the goddess, Gr. ?, ?, the rainbow, iris of the eye,
the plant Iris. Cf. Orris.]
1. (Class. Myth.) The goddess of the rainbow, and
swift-footed messenger of the gods. --Shak.

2. The rainbow. --Sir T. Browne.

3. An appearance resembling the rainbow; a prismatic play of
colors. --Tennyson.

4. (Anat.) The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil,
and forming the colored portion of the eye. See Eye.

5. (Bot.) A genus of plants having showy flowers and bulbous
or tuberous roots, of which the flower-de-luce
(fleur-de-lis), orris, and other species of flag are
examples. See Illust. of Flower-de-luce.

6. (Her.) See Fleur-de-lis, 2.


I"ris, n. (Zo["o]l.)
Inner circle of an oscillated color spot.

Synonyms: flag, fleur-de-lis, iris diaphragm, sword lily

See Also: bearded iris, beardless iris, blue flag, bulbous iris, diaphragm, dwarf iris, English iris, eye, genus Iris, gladdon, gladdon iris, iridaceous plant, Iris cristata, Iris foetidissima, Iris persica, Iris pseudacorus, Iris verna, Iris versicolor, Iris virginica, Iris xiphioides, membrane, oculus, optic, peeper, Persian iris, pupil, roast beef plant, southern blue flag, stinking gladwyn, stinking iris, stop, tissue layer, vernal iris, yellow flag, yellow iris, yellow water flag

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