iridescent
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of iridescent
Explanation
Iridescent is an adjective that means lustrous and pearly, giving off a brilliant sheen like an oil slick or, well, a pearl. Iridescent came to be in 1796, when some enthusiastic word maker took the Latin word iris, which means "rainbow," and morphed it into an English word that describes anything giving off a luminous, rainbow sheen or that changes color in the light. It's a great descriptive word — if you can resist the urge to spell it with an extra "r."
Vocabulary lists containing iridescent
The Old Man and the Sea
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"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 1
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The Secret Life of Bees
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Price: $329 Amazon Best Buy Kaweco Sport Iridescent Pearl Fountain Pen The Kaweco Sport is a staple among compact fountain pens, and the pearl colorway is a sight to behold.
From The Verge • Apr. 28, 2022
BP Iridescent Oversize Puffer Jacket: She’ll love this pearly pink, iridescent puffer jacket from Nordstrom’s BP brand that will keep her feeling warm and looking cool all winter.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 14, 2021
Iridescent orange in color, it looks sort of like a rosé but has considerable heft on the palate.
From Washington Post • Oct. 30, 2020
Iridescent black Gucci tracksuit, white moon-boot sneakers adorned with crystal-studded belts that gently jingle-jangle as he moves.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2019
Iridescent skin, bright eyes, and ears elegantly pinched at the tops.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
