'Irides' definitions:

Definition of 'Irides'

From: GCIDE
  • Iris \I"ris\, n.; pl. E. Irises, L. Irides. [L. iris, iridis, the goddess, Gr. ?, ?, the rainbow, iris of the eye, the plant Iris. Cf. Orris.]
  • 1. (Class. Myth.) The goddess of the rainbow, and swift-footed messenger of the gods. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The rainbow. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. An appearance resembling the rainbow; a prismatic play of colors. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Anat.) The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, and forming the colored portion of the eye. See Eye. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Bot.) 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]
  • 6. (Her.) See Fleur-de-lis, 2. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. (Zool.) the inner circle of an oscillated color spot. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • 8. same as iris diaphragm. [PJC]

Words containing 'Irides'