iridescence

American  

[ir-i-des-uhns] / ˌɪr ɪˈdɛs əns /

noun

1. iridescent quality; a play of lustrous, changing colors.

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Other Word Forms

• noniridescence noun

Etymology

Origin of iridescence

First recorded in 1795–1805; irid- + -escence

Explanation

Iridescence is a shiny, glowing quality. The bright, colorful surface of a soap bubble is beautiful because of its iridescence. Aside from the soapy bubbles you can blow and watch sailing away in the air, certain seashells and butterfly wings also have the property of iridescence. The iridescence of an oyster or abalone shell lining is called "mother of pearl," and a pearl is a gem that also has iridescence. This noun comes from the adjective iridescent, which originally meant "rainbow-colored," from the Latin root iris, "rainbow."

Example Sentences

“For example, when you look at oyster shells, they have an iridescence of pearly green and blue, and that’s definitely from minerals like copper,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2024

Tentacular growths begin to invade the offshore structure, shimmering with oily iridescence against the rig’s dull, cold steel.

From New York Times • Jun. 17, 2024

Out of the 16,724 known species and subspecies of ants worldwide, only a few exhibit blue coloration or iridescence.

From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2024

Some species use their iridescence to attract mates or give off warning signals, but it’s not clear whether the ghost catfish’s colors serve a purpose, Rutowski said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 13, 2023

The boulders show and seem to rise up and the ocean recedes leaving little pools, leaving wet weed and moss and sponge, iridescence and brown and blue and China red.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck