iridescent
/ˌɪɹ.ɪˈdɛs.ənt/
iridescent means producing a display of lustrous, rainbow-like colors; prismatic. It carries an Arena rating of 2046, earned across 28 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, iridescent ranks #17 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words, #260 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #746 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words, #1,027 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words.
iridescent is pronounced /ˌɪɹ.ɪˈdɛs.ənt/.
Why “iridescent” is a great word
Producing a display of lustrous, rainbow-like colors that change with the angle of view or illumination. From Latin *iris*, *iridis* (“rainbow”) and the English suffix *-escent* (“becoming, beginning to”), coined around 1800. Unlike 'prismatic' (which denotes colors cleanly separated by refraction) or 'opalescent' (which suggests a milky, pearly softness), iridescent is the active, shimmering play of color itself. It is the oil-slick sheen on a wet pavement, the impossible jewel-tone neck of a common pigeon, and the soap bubble's skin holding all colors yet surrendering them instantly—a fleeting performance of light, contingent on your gaze.
Etymology
Coined around 1800, from Latin iris, iridis (“rainbow”) + -escent.
adj
- Producing a display of lustrous, rainbow-like colors; prismatic.e.g.“iridescent appearance”
- Brilliant, lustrous, or colorful.e.g.“iridescent sheen”
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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