Definition of "Iris"

Iris

proper noun
1. (Greek mythology) A messenger of the gods, and goddess of rainbows.
  Quotations
  What's the matter, That this distemper'd messenger of wet, The many-colour'd Iris, rounds thine eye?
  c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iii]
2. A female given name from Ancient Greek; a flower name used since the end of the 19th century.
  Quotations
  Persia tells Iris she is named for something special: the iris of the eye. "I thought I was named for a flower," Iris says, disappointed. "An iris is a flower, of course," Persia says, smiling, "but it's this other, too. Our secret. 'The iris of the eye'." "The eye?" Persia snaps her fingers in Iris's eyes. The gesture is so rude and unexpected, Iris will remember it all her life. After this disclosure, Iris doesn't know whether she likes her name any more.
  1990, Joyce Carol Oates, Because It Is Bitter, And Because It Is My Heart, page 39
3. (astronomy) 7 Iris, a main belt asteroid.