🇵🇹Portuguese Source WordCode: PT

íris

Pronunciation / Transliteration: /ˈi.ɾis/

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Iris/ˈaɪ.rɪs/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #4500 frequency
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🇵🇹 Example Sentence in Portuguese:

"A íris é a parte colorida do olho humano."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The flat, colored, ring-shaped membrane behind the cornea of the eye, with an adjustable circular opening (pupil) in the center.

    "Bright lights cause the muscles in the iris to contract and make the pupil smaller."
  2. 2

    A plant of the family Iridaceae, typically having showy flowers and sword-shaped leaves.

    "The garden was filled with purple and yellow irises blooming in the spring sunshine."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Ancient Greek word ἶρις (îris), meaning 'rainbow' or 'messenger goddess'. In mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the gods, which led to the botanical and anatomical applications of the term due to its colorful nature.

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