i|ris

i|ris «Y rihs», noun.

1. any one of a group of plants with leaves shaped like swords, and large, showy flowers most of which have three upright petals and three drooping sepals; fleur-de-lis; flag. The iris grows from a bulb or rhizome.

2. the flower of any of these plants.

3. the colored part of the eye around the pupil. It is a contractile disc between the cornea and the lens of the eye. The amount of light entering the eye is controlled by the iris.

4. a) = rainbow. (Cf. ↑rainbow) b) anything like a rainbow; iridescence.

5. a variety of rock crystal that reflects the prismatic colors, used especially by French jewelers.

╂[< Latin īris, īridis, iris, iris plant, rainbow < Greek îris, īridos (originally) the rainbow goddess]

I|ris «Y rihs», noun.

Greek Mythology. the goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods.

╂[< Greek îris; see etym. under iris (Cf. ↑iris)]