Meaning & use
iridescent
Last updated
Showing luminous colors that seem to change when viewed from different angles.
See it in a sentence
The hummingbird's iridescent throat flashed emerald and violet in the sunlight.
Soap bubbles have an iridescent sheen caused by light interference.
A note on using this word
The effect comes from light interference on thin or layered surfaces, not from pigment, which is why the colors shift as the viewing angle changes.
Words with a similar meaning
opalescentshimmering
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
dullmatte
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