You searched for: “iridescence
iridescence
1. The condition of gleaming with bright and changing colors; iridescent.
2. A lustrous rainbow-like play of color caused by differential refraction of light waves (as from an oil slick, soap bubble, or fish scales) that tends to change as the angle of view changes.
3. A condition of color marked by changing the hue and metallic sheen.

It is produced by the reflection and refraction of different lengths of light waves on the apparently colored surfaces. The effect is seen in certain birds, fish, and reptiles.

This entry is located in the following units: -ence, -ency (page 2) -esce, -escent, -escence (page 5) irido-, irid-, iri-, iris- + (page 2)