iris
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the colored part of your eye around the black pupil.
n.the pigmented, contractile membrane of the eye, situated between the cornea and lens, which regulates the amount of light reaching the retina.
Simple“The doctor looked closely at the patient's iris to check for any unusual spots.”
In context“The biometric scanner identifies individuals by mapping the unique patterns and textures found within the human iris.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a tall plant with large, colorful flowers that usually have three petals pointing up and three hanging down.
n.any plant of the genus Iris, characterized by showy flowers and sword-shaped leaves.
Simple“She planted purple irises along the edge of the garden path.”
In context“The botanical garden features a diverse collection of bearded irises, which bloom in a spectacular array of colors during the late spring.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.the part of a camera lens that opens and closes to control how much light gets in.
n.an adjustable diaphragm consisting of thin overlapping plates, used to control the aperture of a lens.
Simple“The photographer adjusted the iris to make the background look blurry.”
In context“By narrowing the iris of the lens, the cinematographer was able to maintain a deep focus across the entire landscape.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a rainbow or a bright display of many colors.
n.a rainbow or an iridescent appearance resembling a rainbow.
Simple“An iris of light appeared in the mist above the waterfall.”
In context“The poet described the morning dew as a thousand tiny irises scattered across the meadow grass.”
Synonymsrainbowiridescence - 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to open or close slowly like the part of an eye or a camera lens.
v.to expand or contract in a manner resembling the movement of an ocular or mechanical iris.
Simple“The mechanical door irised open to let the crew inside.”
In context“The stage lights slowly irised down, focusing a single, sharp beam on the lead actor as the scene concluded.”
From Ancient Greek Ἶρις (Îris, “rainbow”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.