Exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow, especially a surface reflection which changes color with the angle at which the object is viewed; the quality or state of being iridescent; a prismatic play of color; as, the iridescence of mother-of-pearl. It is due to interference of light waves reflected from the front and back surfaces of a thin layer transpatrent or semitransparent film.
Birds with iridescence have feathers with special properties which reflect different colors of light. Different angles of light striking the feathers may produce colors like purple, green, bronze, blue, and more. Many blackbirds, including the Common Grackle, possess iridescent plumage.
refers to the optical effect whereby prismatic colours, similar to the ones seen on oil films, can be seen. Iridescence is the play of lustrous colours, which may be like those of the rainbow or a subtle combination of colours such as pink, blue, green, and silver.
Prismatic colors inside or on the surface of a material caused by light interference from thin layers of differing refractive indices. These layers may be thin films of liquid, gas or solid. Pearls are best known for exhibiting iridescence.
Shiny rainbow colors caused by reflection, as seen on soap bubbles or in the feathers of some birds, such as on a pigeon's neck.
See weathering. A rainbow of surface colors created with a thin coating of metal or other materials.
Producing a lustrous display of rainbow-like colors; brilliant, lustrous, colorful in appearance or effect.
The exhibition of prismatic (rainbow) colors on the surface of a gem. See also orient, overtone.
The rainbow-like play of different colors created by a coating of metallic oxides, an effect sometimes seen in glass by Tiffany and Lötz.
A type of shiny, metallic finish popular on late 19th and early 20th century glassware from makers such as Tiffany, Loetz and Steuben. The effect is achieved by spraying the still-hot piece with metallic oxides which deposit the shiny surface.
A surface rainbow effect, similar to oil-on-water appearance.
Reflection of light off internal features in a gem, giving rise to a rainbow like play of colors.
Effect caused by the interference of light on thin films within the gemstone.
Iridescence is the rainbow like colour effects seen in some gems. This phenomenon is commonly found in Opal, Ammonite and Moonstone.
Shimmering colours on the surface of the earthworm's skin as a result of refracted light. Green and blue are common iridescent colours.
brilliant patches of green or pink sometimes seen near the edges of high- or medium-level clouds.
The rainbow-like play of colors exhibited by the feathers of certain bird species, caused by the scattering of light rays reflected from the structure of these unique feathers. The plumage of the adult male Purple Martin is ablaze with purplish-blue, iridescent feathers.
The light phenomenon associated with the play of colors from a mineral surface.
Light effect causing a mineral to display a play of colors on an apparently monocolored surface. Iridescence is many times the result of pearly luster, seen around an area where pressure occurred, displaying a similar image to that of fresh oil rising to the surface of a road at the beginning of a rain. Iridescence is also the result of mild tarnishing of a few metallic lustered minerals, such as Chalcopyrite and Hematite.
The rainbowlike effect that changes according to the angle from which it is viewed or the angle of incidence of the source of light. On ancient glass, iridescence is caused by interference effects of light reflected from several layers of weathering products. On certain 19th- and 20th-century glasses, iridescence is a deliberate effect achieved by the introduction of metallic substances into the batch or by spraying the surface with stannous chloride or lead chloride and reheating it in a reducing atmosphere.
the color effect on a surface that shows a lustrous, rainbow sort of brilliance. Examples of iridescence include a soap bubble or oil on water.
The play of color in a gemstone resulting from inclusions.
A "glow" displayed by a coin, often gleaming through light pastel colors
The play of colors seen within a gemstone as a result of inclusions interfering with light entering the stone.
to produce a display of rainbowlike colors
Brilliant spots or borders of colors in clouds, usually red and green, caused by diffraction of light by small cloud particles. The phenomenon is usually observed in thin cirrus clouds within about 30° of the sun and is characterized by bands of color in the cloud that contour the cloud edges.
This is the rainbow like color effect seen in some gems and is caused by cracks or structural layers breaking up light into spectral colors. Fire Agate is a gemstone that shows this phenomenon to good effect. When iridescence occurs in metallic hues (called schiller) in Labradorite, it is commonly called “labradorescence”. In Pearls, iridescence is called the “orient”.
Colors of the rainbow in shifting hues and patterns.
Bright, lustrous, rainbow–like colors which can change with position.
Iridescence is an optical phenomenon characterized as the property of surfaces in which hue changes according to the angle from which the surface is viewed (as may be seen of soap bubbles and butterfly wings).