iridescent

adjective
UK: /ˌɪrɪˈdes(ə)nt/
US: /ˌɪrɪˈdes(ə)nt/

  1. Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles.

    1. The soap bubble was iridescent in the sunlight.
    2. The oil slick on the road had an iridescent sheen, reflecting the surrounding colors.

Synonyms

opalescent nacreous pearlescent glistening
iridescent noun

  1. A shimmering or rainbow-like display of color.

    1. The iridescent of the hummingbird's feathers is stunning.
    2. Collectors prize the iridescent found on antique carnival glass, making each piece unique.
iridescent intransitive-verb

  1. To display or exhibit iridescent colors.

    1. The dragonfly's wings iridescent as it flew past.
    2. Certain minerals iridescent when exposed to ultraviolet light, revealing hidden patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "iridescent" is /ˌɪrɪˈdes(ə)nt/ in British English and /ˌɪrɪˈdes(ə)nt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "iridescent": opalescent, nacreous, pearlescent, glistening.

Example usage of "iridescent": "The soap bubble was iridescent in the sunlight.". More examples on the page.