iris

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: I=ris

CIDE DICTIONARY

iris, n. [L. iris, iridis, the goddess, Gr. , , the rainbow, iris of the eye, the plant Iris. Cf. Orris.].

•  The goddess of the rainbow, and swift-footed messenger of the gods.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  The rainbow.  Sir T. Browne.  [1913 Webster]
•  An appearance resembling the rainbow; a prismatic play of colors.  Tennyson.  [1913 Webster]
•  The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, and forming the colored portion of the eye. See Eye.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  See Fleur-de-lis, 2.  [1913 Webster]
•  the inner circle of an oscillated color spot.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  same as iris diaphragm.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

iris, n.
1 the flat circular coloured membrane behind the cornea of the eye, with a circular opening (pupil) in the centre.
2 any herbaceous plant of the genus Iris, usu. with tuberous roots, sword-shaped leaves, and showy flowers.
3 (in full iris diaphragm) an adjustable diaphragm of thin overlapping plates for regulating the size of a central hole esp. for the admission of light to a lens.

Etymology

ME f. L iris iridis f. Gk iris iridos rainbow, iris

THESAURUS

iris

Dalmatian, antigorite, baby blues, band, banjo eyes, bar, bespangle, bespeckle, bespot, blotch, bright eyes, butterfly, candy cane, chameleon, check, checker, cheetah, chrysotile, clear eyes, confetti, cornea, crazy quilt, dapple, dot, eye, eyeball, eyelid, firedog, flake, fleck, freckle, goggle eyes, harlequin, iridesce, iridize, jaguar, lens, leopard, lid, mackerel, mackerel sky, maculate, marble, marbled paper, marbleize, moire, mother-of-pearl, motley, mottle, nacre, naked eye, nictitating membrane, ocelot, oculus, opal, opalesce, ophite, optic, optic nerve, orb, organ of vision, patchwork quilt, peacock, peeper, pepper, polychrome, polychromize, popeyes, pupil, rainbow, retina, saucer eyes, sclera, serpentine, serpentine marble, shot silk, spangle, speck, speckle, spectrum, splotch, spot, sprinkle, starry orbs, stigmatize, stipple, streak, striate, stripe, stud, tattoo, tessellate, tortoise shell, unaided eye, variegate, vein, visual organ, zebra

ROGET THESAURUS

iris

Traveler

N traveler, wayfarer, voyager, itinerant, passenger, commuter, tourist, excursionist, explorer, adventurer, mountaineer, hiker, backpacker, Alpine Club, peregrinator, wanderer, rover, straggler, rambler, bird of passage, gadabout, gadling, vagrant, scatterling, landloper, waifs and estrays, wastrel, foundling, loafer, tramp, tramper, vagabond, nomad, Bohemian, gypsy, Arab, Wandering Jew, Hadji, pilgrim, palmer, peripatetic, somnambulist, emigrant, fugitive, refugee, beach comber, booly, globegirdler, globetrotter, vagrant, hobo, night walker, sleep walker, noctambulist, runabout, straphanger, swagman, swagsman, trecker, trekker, zingano, zingaro, runner, courier, Mercury, Iris, Ariel, comet, pedestrian, walker, foot passenger, cyclist, wheelman, rider, horseman, equestrian, cavalier, jockey, roughrider, trainer, breaker, driver, coachman, whip, Jehu, charioteer, postilion, postboy, carter, wagoner, drayman, cabman, cabdriver, voiturier, vetturino, condottiere, engine driver, stoker, fireman, guard, chauffeur, conductor, engineer, gharry-wallah, gari-wala, hackman, syce, truckman, on the road.

Variegation

N variegation, colors, dichroism, trichroism, iridescence, play of colors, polychrome, maculation, spottiness, striae, spectrum, rainbow, iris, tulip, peacock, chameleon, butterfly, tortoise shell, mackerel, mackerel sky, zebra, leopard, cheetah, nacre, ocelot, ophite, mother-of-pearl, opal, marble, check, plaid, tartan, patchwork, marquetry-, parquetry, mosaic, tesserae, strigae, chessboard, checkers, chequers, harlequin, Joseph's coat, tricolor, variegated, many-colored, many-hued, divers-colored, party- colored, dichromatic, polychromatic, bicolor, tricolor, versicolor, of all the colors of the rainbow, of all manner of colors, kaleidoscopic, iridescent, opaline, opalescent, prismatic, nacreous, pearly, shot, gorge de pigeon, chatoyant, irisated, pavonine, pied, piebald, motley, mottled, marbled, pepper and salt, paned, dappled, clouded, cymophanous, mosaic, tesselated, plaid, tortoise shell, spotted, spotty, punctated, powdered, speckled, freckled, flea-bitten, studded, flecked, fleckered, striated, barred, veined, brinded, brindled, tabby, watered, grizzled, listed, embroidered, daedal, naevose, stipiform, strigose, striolate, (iii) PERCEPTIONS OF LIGHT.

Vision

N vision, sight, optics, eyesight, view, look, espial, glance, ken, coup d'oeil, glimpse, glint, peep, gaze, stare, leer, perlustration, contemplation, conspection, conspectuity, regard, survey, introspection, reconnaissance, speculation, watch, espionage, espionnage, autopsy, ocular inspection, ocular demonstration, sight-seeing, point of view, gazebo, loophole, belvedere, watchtower, field of view, theater, amphitheater, arena, vista, horizon, commanding view, bird's eye view, periscope, visual organ, organ of vision, eye, naked eye, unassisted eye, retina, pupil, iris, cornea, white, optics, orbs, saucer eyes, goggle eyes, gooseberry eyes, short sight, clear sight, sharp sight, quick sight, eagle sight, piercing sight, penetrating sight, clear glance, sharp glance, quick glance, eagle glance, piercing glance, penetrating glance, clear eye, sharp eye, quick eye, eagle eye, piercing eye, penetrating eye, perspicacity, discernment, catopsis, eagle, hawk, cat, lynx, Argus, evil eye, basilisk, cockatrice, seeing, visual, ocular, optic, optical, ophthalmic, clear-eyesighted, eagle-eyed, hawk-eyed, lynx-eyed, keen- eyed, Argus-eyed, visible, visibly, in sight of, with one's eyes open at sight, at first sight, at a glance, at the first blush, prima facie, Int, look!, the scales falling from one's eyes, an eye like Mars to threaten or command, her eyes are homes of silent prayer, looking before and after, thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes.

Messenger

N messenger, envoy, emissary, legate, nuncio, internuncio, ambassador, marshal, flag bearer, herald, crier, trumpeter, bellman, pursuivant, parlementaire, apparitor, courier, runner, dak, estafette, Mercury, Iris, Ariel, commissionaire, errand boy, chore boy, newsboy, mail, overnight mail, express mail, next-day delivery, post, post office, letter bag, delivery service, United Parcel Service, UPS, Federal Express, Fedex, telegraph, telephone, cable, wire (electronic information transmission), carrier pigeon, (news) 532 reporter, gentleman of the press, representative of the press, penny-a-liner, special correspondent, own correspondent, spy, scout, informer.