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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
iris noun 1 (irises, technical irides) a perennial plant that arises from a rhizome or a corm, and has flattened sword-shaped leaves and large brilliantly coloured flowers, consisting of equal numbers of upright and hanging petals. 2 anatomy an adjustable pigmented ring of muscle lying in front of the lens of the eye, surrounding the pupil, and which, through contraction or relaxation of its muscle fibres, increases or decreases the size of the pupil, thereby controlling the amount of light entering the eye. 3 (in full iris diaphragm) a device consisting of a series of thin overlapping crescent-shaped plates surrounding a central circular aperture, used to control the amount of light entering an optical instrument.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: Greek, meaning 'rainbow'.
iris noun 1 (irises, technical irides) a perennial plant that arises from a rhizome or a corm, and has flattened sword-shaped leaves and large brilliantly coloured flowers, consisting of equal numbers of upright and hanging petals. 2 anatomy an adjustable pigmented ring of muscle lying in front of the lens of the eye, surrounding the pupil, and which, through contraction or relaxation of its muscle fibres, increases or decreases the size of the pupil, thereby controlling the amount of light entering the eye. 3 (in full iris diaphragm) a device consisting of a series of thin overlapping crescent-shaped plates surrounding a central circular aperture, used to control the amount of light entering an optical instrument.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: Greek, meaning 'rainbow'.
iris noun 1 (irises, technical irides) a perennial plant that arises from a rhizome or a corm, and has flattened sword-shaped leaves and large brilliantly coloured flowers, consisting of equal numbers of upright and hanging petals. 2 anatomy an adjustable pigmented ring of muscle lying in front of the lens of the eye, surrounding the pupil, and which, through contraction or relaxation of its muscle fibres, increases or decreases the size of the pupil, thereby controlling the amount of light entering the eye. 3 (in full iris diaphragm) a device consisting of a series of thin overlapping crescent-shaped plates surrounding a central circular aperture, used to control the amount of light entering an optical instrument.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: Greek, meaning 'rainbow'.
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
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The Chambers Thesaurus
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Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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