GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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1.       
   Iris (?), 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.
   
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   2. The rainbow.  Sir T. Browne.
   
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   3. An appearance resembling the rainbow; a prismatic play of colors.  Tennyson.
   
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   4. (Anat.) The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, and forming the colored portion of the eye. See Eye.
   
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   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.
   
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   6. (Her.) See Fleur-de-lis, 2.
   
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   7. (Zool.) the inner circle of an oscillated color spot.
   
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   8. same as iris diaphragm.
   
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