What does it mean if an object is described as iridescent?

Describing an object as iridescent indicates that it exhibits a phenomenon where luminous colors change as the viewing angle shifts. This unique quality arises due to the way light interferes with the surface of the object, creating a spectrum of colors that can be perceived differently from various perspectives. For example, soap bubbles and the surface of a CD are common examples of iridescence, where the colors seen shift with movement.

The other descriptions do not encompass the specific characteristic of iridescence. Reflecting light pertains to the broad ability of a surface to bounce back light, which does not necessarily involve a change in color with angle. Transparency and clarity refer to the object's ability to allow light to pass through without significant distortion, which is unrelated to color phenomena. Solid and opaque simply indicate a material’s density and inability to transmit light, which has no relevance to the shifting colors associated with iridescence.