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Glite Dictionary
to iridesce

to iridesce

9.9
To show bright rainbow colors that change when seen from different angles
  • verb
  • /ˌɪrɪˈdɛs/
translation icon : iridiscente
  • The soap bubble began to iridesce in the sunlight.

Examples

  • The artist created a glaze that would iridesce on ceramic surfaces, adding depth to her work.

  • The soap bubble began to iridesce in the sunlight, shimmering with every color of the spectrum.

  • Beneath the shallow water, fish scales iridesced as they darted through the light.

  • Her dress iridesces beautifully under the stage lights.

  • The soap bubble began to iridesce in the sunlight, showing a spectrum of colors.

  • As she turned the crystal in her hand, it began to iridesce, reflecting vibrant hues of blue and green.

  • The wings of the butterfly iridesce beautifully, shifting colors as it flits from flower to flower.

Synonyms

to irising
vsto iridesce
9.9

Showing rainbow colors, like a soap bubble, that change when you move or the light changes

has identical meaning but adds a lustrous shimmering emphasis
to opalesce
vsto iridesce
9.9

To show changing shiny colors like an opal

focuses on colors that appear to change with angle rather than opal likeness

How Lustrous

to iridesce
9.9
to shimmer
51 4.3
to gleam
70 1.9
glint
20 2.9

Surface Forms

iridesce infinitive
iridesced past
iridesced past participle
iridescing present participle
iridesces third person singular

Morphology

iridesce = iridescent (transparent) = irid + esce

The verb denotes the action or process of showing iridescent colours and is predictably derived from the adjective 'iridescent'.

Etymology

Iridesce comes from iris, a word for 'rainbow', plus the ending -esce, which means 'to become' or 'start to be'. So, to iridesce is to 'become rainbow-like', and that explains why we use it for surfaces that show changing, shiny rainbow colors when you move them.