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iris

iris

noun ee-REES Rare

Origin: Latin iris, from Greek iris (rainbow, iris plant)

Also means

iris (of the eye)

Usage Note

Iris refers both to the iris flower and to the coloured ring of the eye — the context usually disambiguates. It is masculine and invariable in the plural (les iris). The Iris was also the Greek goddess of the rainbow, reflected in the word's broad colour associations.

Examples

"Les iris violets fleurissent au bord du chemin."

Natural Translation

The purple irises bloom along the path.

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