Definition of Iris

1. Noun. Plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals.


2. Noun. Muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil which in turn controls the amount of light that enters the eye; it forms the colored portion of the eye.
Group relationships: Eye, Oculus, Optic
Terms within: Pupil
Generic synonyms: Membrane, Tissue Layer

3. Noun. Diaphragm consisting of thin overlapping plates that can be adjusted to change the diameter of a central opening.
Exact synonyms: Iris Diaphragm
Generic synonyms: Diaphragm, Stop

Definition of Iris

1. n. The goddess of the rainbow, and swift-footed messenger of the gods.

2. n. Inner circle of an oscillated color spot.

Definition of Iris

1. Proper noun. (Greek god) A messenger of the gods, and goddess of rainbows. ¹

2. Proper noun. (Ancient Greek female given name); a flower name used since the end of the 19th century. ¹

3. Proper noun. (astronomy) (w 7 Iris), an asteroid ¹

4. Noun. (botany) A plant of the genus ''Iris'', common in the northern hemisphere, and generally having attractive blooms. ¹

5. Noun. (anatomy) The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, which adjusts to control the amount of light reaching the retina, and which forms the colored portion of the eye. ¹

6. Noun. (photography cinematography) A diaphragm used to regulate the size of a hole, especially as a way of controlling the amount of light reaching a lens. ¹

7. Noun. (poetic) A rainbow, or other colourful refraction of light. ¹

8. Noun. (electronics) A constricted opening in the path inside a waveguide, used to form a resonator. ¹

9. Verb. (of an aperture, lens or door) To open or close in the manner of an iris. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Iris

1. a part of the eye [n IRISES or IRIDES] / to give the form of a rainbow to [v -ED, -ING, -ES]

Medical Definition of Iris

1. Origin: L. Iris, iridis, the goddess, Gr, the rainbow, iris of the eye, the plant Iris. Cf. Orris. 1. The goddess of the rainbow, and swift-footed messenger of the gods. 2. The rainbow. 3. An appearance resembling the rainbow; a prismatic play of colours. 4. The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, and forming the coloured portion of the eye. See Eye. 5. 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Iris

iridosmine
iridosmines
iridosmium
iridotases
iridotasis
iridotomies
iridotomy
iridoviridae
iridovirus
iridoviruses
irids
irigenin
iriginite
iring
irinotecan
iris
iris-
iris-nevus syndrome
iris bicolor
iris bombe
iris dehiscence
iris diaphragm
iris dilator muscle
iris diseases
iris family
iris freckles
iris frill
iris neoplasms
iris pigmented epithelium
iris pits

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