iris
gb/ˈaɪɹɪs/ us/ˈaɪɹɪs/
B2
English
~ 9700
írisz, szivárványhártya, nőszirom, íriszrekesz, rekesz
NOUN
B2
1
írisz
B2
Usage pattern:
the iris of [someone]'s eye
The doctor shone a light into his eye to check how his iris reacted.
Az orvos fényt világított a szemébe, hogy ellenőrizze, hogyan reagál az írisze.
Her green iris looked almost golden in the sunlight.
A zöld írisze a napfényben szinte aranyszínűnek látszott.
In very bright light, the muscles in the iris tighten and the pupil becomes smaller.
An injury to the iris can make the pupil stay open and cause sensitivity to light.
Different amounts of pigment in the iris create different eye colors.
Learner examples
The iris is the colored part of your eye.
Az írisz a szemed színes része.
My sister has a blue iris in each eye.
A nővéremnek mindkét szemében kék az írisz.
When it is dark, your iris opens the pupil wider.
The doctor said the iris in my left eye is a little damaged.
Light makes the iris smaller, and the pupil looks small.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "iris" with "pupil" and use them as if they were the same. The iris is the colored ring; the pupil is the black hole in the center. Another mistake is using "iris" to mean "eye" in general, instead of just this specific part.
Meaning
colored ring of the eye
Collocations
iris of the eye
|blue iris
|brown iris
|iris color
|damaged iris
|iris muscles
Synonyms
pupil area (informal/approximate) (Often used loosely in speech for the center of the eye, but it is not precise; the pupil is the black hole, while the iris is the colored ring around it.)
Antonyms
pupil (In anatomy this is not a true opposite, but it contrasts with the iris as the dark opening in the center rather than the colored ring around it.)
Themes
body
|health
|biology
Definition
The colored round part in the middle of your eye that can open and close to let in more or less light.
The thin, colored, ring-shaped part of the eye around the pupil that controls how much light enters the eye.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
an iris in [a place]
She planted a row of purple iris along the front walkway.
Egy sor lila nőszirmot ültetett a bejárathoz vezető járda mellé.
The irises in the park are in full bloom this week.
A park nőszirmai ezen a héten teljes pompájukban virágoznak.
Yellow iris can spread quickly along the edges of ponds.
He brought her a bouquet of irises from his garden.
The gardener divided the iris bulbs and replanted them in a sunnier spot.
Learner examples
There are many purple iris in her garden.
Sok lila nőszirom van a kertjében.
I like the yellow iris next to the small pond.
Tetszik a kis tó melletti sárga nőszirom.
We planted three irises in front of the house.
In spring, the irises open and look very pretty.
My mother cut some iris flowers and put them in a vase.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "an irises" or use only the plural. Use "an iris" for one flower and "irises" for more than one. Another mistake is confusing "iris" with other flowers like "lily" or "orchid" because they can look similar.
Meaning
flowering plant called iris
Collocations
purple iris
|yellow iris
|iris garden
|iris bed
|plant irises
|iris bulbs
Synonyms
flower (A very general word that does not specify the particular type of plant like "iris" does.)
Antonyms
weed (In gardening, a weed is an unwanted plant, contrasting with an iris, which is usually planted on purpose for its beauty.)
Themes
nature
|plants
|gardening
|daily_life
Definition
A garden flower with long thin leaves and big, colorful flowers, often purple or yellow, called an iris.
A garden plant of the genus Iris with long, narrow leaves and large, colorful flowers, often purple, yellow, or white, grown as an ornamental.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
íriszrekesz
C1
rekesz
B2
Usage pattern:
the iris of [a camera or lens]
The cinematographer adjusted the iris to keep the subject properly exposed.
Az operatőr úgy állította be az íriszrekeszt, hogy a téma megfelelően legyen exponálva.
A sticky iris in the lens can cause uneven exposure between shots.
Az objektívben akadó íriszrekesz egyenetlen expozíciót okozhat a felvételek között.
On this microscope, you control the brightness by changing the iris diaphragm.
The technician cleaned the iris mechanism so it could open and close smoothly.
In bright sunlight, you should close down the iris to avoid overexposing the image.
Learner examples
You can change the light in the photo by moving the iris of the camera.
A fényképen a fény mennyiségét a kamera íriszrekeszének állításával lehet változtatni.
The iris in this lens does not open correctly.
Ebben az objektívben az íriszrekesz nem nyílik ki rendesen.
He closed the iris a little because the scene was too bright.
The repair shop fixed the iris in my old camera.
This microscope has a small knob to control the iris.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "iris" and "aperture" are always exactly the same. In photography, "aperture" usually refers to the size or f-number, while "iris" emphasizes the mechanical parts that create that opening.
Meaning
adjustable opening in a lens
Collocations
camera iris
|iris diaphragm
|iris control
|adjust the iris
|iris setting
|iris mechanism
Synonyms
aperture (The more common technical term in photography; refers to the opening itself and its size, while "iris" focuses on the mechanical part that creates the opening.)
Antonyms
fixed aperture (A lens with a fixed aperture does not have an adjustable iris, so the opening cannot change size.)
Themes
technology
|photography
|science
Definition
The part of a camera or other optical tool that can open and close in a circle to let in more or less light through the lens.
An adjustable, ring-shaped opening in a camera or other optical device that controls how much light passes through the lens, similar in function to the iris of an eye.
Grammar
Dictionary form
iris
IPA
GB/ˈaɪɹɪs/
US/ˈaɪɹɪs/
Syllables & stress
iris (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (iris)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: iris
- Plural: irides, irises
Word family
Forms
irides
noun
irises
noun
Related words
iridescent
adjective
Advanced or less common
iridescence
noun
Expressions
iris of the eye
1/ˈaɪɹɪs əv ðə ˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
the eye’s colored ring
The colored round part in the middle of a person’s eye, around the black center.
Examples
- The doctor examined the iris of the eye for signs of infection.
- Trauma can damage the iris of the eye and affect vision.