brilliant colored borders or spots of color 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
The phenomenon whereby interference of light waves of mixed frequencies reflected from the top and bottom of thin films produces a spectrum of colors
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 condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color
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
In geology, the property of some minerals to show colors inside themselves; i e , fire opal
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
Exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; the quality or state of being iridescent; a prismatic play of color; as, the iridescence of mother-of-pearl
The phenomenon whereby interference of light waves of mixed frequencies reflected from the top and bottom of thin films produces a spectrum of colors