iris

Noun

• diaphragm consisting of thin overlapping plates that can be adjusted to change the diameter of a central opening

• muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil which in turn controls the amount of light that enters the eye; it forms the colored portion of the eye

• plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  iris diaphragm , flag , fleur-de-lis , sword lily