[ahy-ris] 
noun, plural i⋅ris⋅es, ir⋅i⋅des [ir-i-deez, ahy-ri-] , verb | 1. | Anatomy. the contractile, circular diaphragm forming the colored portion of the eye and containing a circular opening, the pupil, in its center. |
| 2. | Botany. any plant of the genus Iris, having showy flowers and sword-shaped leaves. Compare iris family. |
| 3. | a flower of this plant. |
| 4. | (initial capital letter ) Classical Mythology. a messenger of the gods, regarded as the goddess of the rainbow. |
| 5. | a rainbow. |
| 6. | any appearance resembling a rainbow. |
| 7. | Movies, Television. an iris-in or iris-out. |
| 8. | Optics, Photography. iris diaphragm. |
| 9. | Movies. to begin or end a take or scene with an iris-in or iris-out, achieved by manipulation of an iris diaphragm on the camera or by editing the film. |
[ahy-ris] | a female given name. |
| a composite diaphragm with a central aperture readily adjustable for size, used to regulate the amount of light admitted to a lens or optical system. |
| i·ris (ī'rĭs) n. pl. i·ris·es or i·ri·des (ī'rĭ-dēz', ĭr'ĭ-)
[Middle English, iris (the plant), from Latin īris, īrid-, rainbow, iris (the plant), from Greek, rainbow, brightly-colored gemstone, iris of the eye; see wei- in Indo-European roots.] |
| I·ris (ī'rĭs) n. Greek Mythology The goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. [Latin Īris, from Greek, from īris, rainbow; see wei- in Indo-European roots.] |
iris i·ris (ī'rĭs)
n. pl. i·ris·es or i·ri·des (ī'rĭ-dēz', ĭr'ĭ-)
The round pigmented contractile membrane of the eye that is perforated in the center by the pupil, forms the front part of the vascular tunic, and is attached on the margin to the ciliary body.
| iris (ī'rĭs) Pronunciation Key
Plural irises or irides (ī'rĭ-dēz', ĭr'ĭ-) The colored, muscular ring around the pupil of the eye in vertebrate animals, located between the cornea and lens. Contraction and expansion of the iris controls the size of the pupil, thereby regulating the amount of light reaching the retina. |
IRIS body
Institute for Research in Information and Scholarship of Brown University (Providence RI).
(1994-11-04)
Iris
An object-oriented DBMS.
(1994-11-04)
| IRIS Integrated Risk Information System |
Iris
in Greek mythology, the personification of the rainbow and (in Homer's Iliad, for example) a messenger of the gods. According to the Greek poet Hesiod, she was the daughter of Thaumas and the ocean nymph Electra. In Hesiod's works, at least, she had the additional duty of carrying water from the River Styx in a ewer whenever the gods had to take a solemn oath. The water would render unconscious for one year any god or goddess who lied. In art, Iris was normally portrayed with wings, and her attributes were the herald's staff and a vase. She was shown serving wine to the gods or escorting them to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis.
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