iris

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 widely cultivated 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.

The rainbow.

[capitalized] In classical mythology, the goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods, attached especially to Hera.

[capitalized] The seventh planetoid, discovered by Hind at London in 1847.

An appearance resembling a rainbow; an appearance of the hues of a rainbow, as seen in sunlit spray, the spectrum of sunlight, etc.; any iridescence.

A precious stone.

In anatomy, a contraetile colored curtain suspended vertically in the aqueous humor of the eye, between the cornea and the lens, separating the anterior and posterior chambers, which intercommunicate through the pupil.