irises definition | Dictionary.com

i⋅ris

[ahy-ris]

noun, plural i⋅ris⋅es, ir⋅i⋅des [ir-i-deez, ahy-ri-]

,
verb

–noun

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.

–verb (used without object)

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.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L Īris, īris < Gk Îris, îris rainbow, goddess of the rainbow, halo, iris flower or root, iridescent crystal; in some senses < NL < Gk: diaphragm of eye

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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i·ris (ī'rĭs) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. i·ris·es or i·ri·des (ī'rĭ-dēz', ĭr'ĭ-)

The pigmented, round, contractile membrane of the eye, suspended between the cornea and lens and perforated by the pupil. It regulates the amount of light entering the eye.
Any of numerous plants of the genus Iris, having narrow sword-shaped leaves and showy, variously colored flowers.
A rainbow or rainbowlike display of colors.
An iris diaphragm.

[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.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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