iridescence

noun
UK: /ˌɪrɪˈdesns/
US: /ˌɪrɪˈdesəns/

  1. The quality of showing many bright colours that seem to change when you move or look at them from a different angle.

    1. The bird's feathers showed a beautiful iridescence.
    2. The soap bubble shimmered with iridescence as it floated in the air, reflecting a rainbow of colors.

Synonyms

nacre mother-of-pearl shimmer luster
iridescence adjective

  1. Displaying a play of lustrous colors like those of the rainbow.

    1. The CD had an iridescence surface.
    2. The oil slick on the water's surface had an iridescence sheen that caught the sunlight.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "iridescence" is /ˌɪrɪˈdesns/ in British English and /ˌɪrɪˈdesəns/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "iridescence": nacre, mother-of-pearl, shimmer, luster.

Example usage of "iridescence": "The bird's feathers showed a beautiful iridescence.". More examples on the page.