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Iris vs Irish - What's the difference?

iris | irish |

As nouns the difference between iris and irish

is that iris is a plant of the genus Iris, common in the northern hemisphere, and generally having attractive blooms (Wikipedia) while Irish is the Irish people.

As proper nouns the difference between iris and irish

is that iris is a messenger of the gods, and goddess of rainbows while Irish is the Goidelic language indigenous to Ireland, also known as Irish Gaelic.

As a verb iris

is to open or close in the manner of an iris.

As an adjective Irish is

pertaining to or originating from Ireland or the Irish people.

iris

Noun

(See Usage notes)
  • (lb) A plant of the genus Iris , common in the northern hemisphere, and generally having attractive blooms ().
  • *
  • *:Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of mauve-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines.
  • (lb) The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, which adjusts to control the amount of light reaching the retina, and which forms the colored portion of the eye ().
  • A diaphragm used to regulate the size of a hole, especially as a way of controlling the amount of light reaching a lens.
  • (lb) A rainbow, or other colourful refraction of light.
  • (lb) A constricted opening in the path inside a waveguide, used to form a resonator.
  • Usage notes

    For the part of the eye, the usual medical plural is irides.
    For the flower both iris'' and ''irises are in common use.

    Quotations

    plural iris {{timeline, 1900s=1989
    1996, 2000s=2004}} * 1989, Ann Lovejoy, The Year in Bloom [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=B2WnTx8ZSXoC&pg=PA107&lpg=PA107&sig=kTR265orMNqHigdpkspkvz5gF8c] *: Is there anything more spectacular than the bearded iris in their short season? * 1996, Katherine Grace Endicott, Northern California Gardening [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=2Orl1AcbaT4C&pg=PA138&lpg=PA138&sig=sRNZY7Jc53QpEqCrkaHoFKHx7_g] *: Tall bearded iris are in bloom now. * 2004, Diana Beresford-Kroeger, A Garden for Life [http://print.google.com/print?id=0sPBOVSC2MUC&pg=PA84&lpg=PA84&sig=bEEefwPluRvCp36e6pF5AkExCKk] *: The bulbous iris are important because their early flowers provide a food source for bees and early flying insects. plural irides {{timeline, 1800s=1843, 1900s=1989, 2000s=2001}} * 1843, The Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge *: In colour the irides are straw-yellow, the pupils black; forehead, nape, and back, very dark bluish-black; [...] * 1989, Robert S Ridgely, The Birds of South America [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=tRBb15pk4w0C&pg=RA1-PA374&lpg=RA1-PA374&sig=PZFkFg4LIlBDqSgZ7Z7DnYYha6M] *: As in the caciques, bills are sharply pointed and pale, while irides are usually pale blue. * 2001, John V Forrester et al., The Eye [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=CTltcMRq8_QC&pg=PA121&lpg=PA121&sig=oUK2_xiWqgcZ-USI7UBo0HxuBy4] *: Later in life brown irides are the result of heavily pigmented melanocytes within the stroma. plural irises {{timeline, 1900s=1987
    2000, 2000s=2002}} * 1987, Pamela Harper, Frederick McGourty, Perennials [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=Mi5_h7ryCi0C&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&sig=8_7tj1vGAjqwhPowAsYKQyL0QE8] *: Tall bearded irises are easy to grow but not always easy to grow well. * 2000, Kevin C Voughn, Louisiana Iris [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=4-T1HH-X1_sC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&sig=D957MQkQUZqTgY7ex8mGf0R6Wa4] *: Most iris lovers feel that Louisiana irises are now large enough. * 2002, John E Bryan, Bulbs [http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=v-h4dovkqxgC&pg=PA296&lpg=PA296&sig=Oj6ubuGG706mBqxu_tKlzU90Q-0] *: All these irises are sold as dry, dormant bulbs in fall.

    Derived terms

    * iridal * iridial * iridian * iridium * iridocyclitis * iridology * Iris (proper name) * iritis

    See also

    * *

    Verb

  • To open or close in the manner of an iris.
  • English nouns with irregular plurals ----

    irish

    English

    (wikipedia Irish)

    Proper noun

    (en proper noun)
  • The Goidelic language indigenous to Ireland, also known as Irish Gaelic.
  • Irish is the first official and national language of Ireland
  • (surname)
  • Derived terms

    * Ulster Irish * Munster Irish * Connacht Irish

    Noun

    (-)
  • (as plural) The Irish people.
  • (obsolete) A board game of the tables family.
  • (US) Temper; anger, passion.
  • * 1834 , (David Crockett), A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett , Nebraska (1987), page 65:
  • But her Irish was up too high to do any thing with her, and so I quit trying.
  • * 1947 , Hy Heath, John Lange, (Clancy Lowered the Boom) :
  • Whenever he got his Irish up, Clancy lowered the boom.
  • *
  • whiskey, or whisky, elaborated in Ireland.
  • * 1889 , , (Three Men In A Boat) :
  • Harris said he'd had enough oratory for one night, and proposed that we should go out and have a smile, saying that he had found a place, round by the square, where you could really get a drop of Irish worth drinking.

    Usage notes

    * Use Irishman or Irishwoman for one singular person.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Pertaining to or originating from Ireland or the Irish people.
  • Sheep are typical in the Irish landscape.
  • Pertaining to the Irish language.
  • (derogatory) nonsensical, daft or complex.
  • "A number of derogatory nicknames began to emerge, including "Irish confetti" for thrown bricks, and "Irish kiss" for a slap" (Wisegeek.com)

    Derived terms

    * Irish coffee * Irish cream * Irishly * Irish slam * Irish joke

    See also

    * Erse * Gaelic * (ga) * Language list

    Anagrams

    * *