iridescence

noun

ir·​i·​des·​cence ˌir-ə-ˈde-sᵊn(t)s How to pronounce iridescence (audio)
1
: a lustrous rainbowlike play of color caused by differential refraction of light waves (as from an oil slick, soap bubble, or fish scales) that tends to change as the angle of view changes
2
: a lustrous or attractive quality or effect

Examples of iridescence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But what if hunters could take the concept of stuffers one step further and pair the shimmer and iridescence of natural feathers with a robot that mimics the way a live duck moves? Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024 Brown’s video installation moves between the cold precision of aerial photography, the swirling iridescence of oily waters, and a graphic plotting of oil and gas networks that resembles the constellations that guided enslaved peoples out of these very sites. Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 2 Aug. 2024 In previous work to investigate the startling sparkle, Sweeney and her colleagues determined that despite impressive iridescence, the animals’ fleshy mantles reflect as little as about 5 percent of the bright sunlight hitting them. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2024 Bright colors and iridescence in birds, butterflies and some other insects depend on how layers of different microstructures are combined. Tom Siegfried, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for iridescence 

Word History

Etymology

irid(escent) + -escence

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of iridescence was in 1804

Dictionary Entries Near iridescence

Cite this Entry

“Iridescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iridescence. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

iridescence

noun
ir·​i·​des·​cence ˌir-ə-ˈdes-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce iridescence (audio)
: a play of colors producing rainbow effects (as in a soap bubble)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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