iron

noun

Chemistry. a ductile, malleable, silver-white metallic element, scarcely known in a pure condition, but much used in its crude or impure carbon-containing forms for making tools, implements, machinery, etc. Symbol: Fe; atomic weight: 55.847; atomic number: 26; specific gravity: 7.86 at 20°C. Compare cast iron, pig iron, steel, wrought iron.

something hard, strong, rigid, unyielding, or the like: hearts of iron.

an instrument, utensil, weapon, etc., made of iron.

an appliance with a flat metal bottom, used when heated, as by electricity, to press or smooth clothes, linens, etc.

Golf. one of a series of nine iron-headed clubs having progressively sloped-back faces, used for driving or lofting the ball. Compare wood¹ ( def 8 ).

a branding iron.

any of several tools, structural members, etc., of metals other than iron.

the blade of a carpenter's plane.

Slang. a pistol.

10.

a harpoon.

11.

Medicine/Medical. a preparation of iron or containing iron, used chiefly in the treatment of anemia, or as a styptic and astringent.

12.

irons, shackles or fetters: Put him in irons!

13.

a sword.

Relevant Questions

What Is Iron In?

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Where Was Iron Found?

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What Is Ironic?

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Where Is Iron Mined?

adjective

14.

of, containing, or made of iron: an iron skillet.

15.

resembling iron in firmness, strength, color, etc.: an iron will.

16.

stern; harsh; cruel.

17.

inflexible; unrelenting.

18.

strong; robust; healthy.

19.

holding or binding strongly: an iron grip.

20.

irritating or harsh in tone: an iron voice.

00:10

Iron is always a great word to know.

So is oxide. Does it mean:

a colorless, oily, water-soluble, highly toxic, liquid alkaloid, C10H14N2, found in tobacco and valued as an insecticide

a compound in which oxygen is bonded to one or more electropositive atoms

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verb (used with object)

21.

to smooth or press with a heated iron, as clothes or linens.

22.

to furnish, mount, or arm with iron.

23.

to shackle or fetter with irons.

24.

Metalworking. to smooth and thin the walls of (an object being deep-drawn).

verb (used without object)

25.

to press clothes, linens, etc., with an iron.

Verb phrases

26.

iron out,

to iron or press (an item of clothing or the like).

to remove (wrinkles) from by ironing.

to resolve or clear up (difficulties, disagreements, etc.): The problem was ironed out months ago.

Idioms

27.

in irons,

Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) unable to maneuver because of the position of the sails with relation to the direction of the wind.

Nautical. (of a towing vessel) unable to maneuver because of tension on the towing line.

Also, into irons. in shackles or fetters.

28.

irons in the fire, matters with which one is immediately concerned; undertakings; projects: He had other irons in the fire, so that one failure would not destroy him.

29.

pump iron, to lift weights as an exercise or in competition.

30.

strike while the iron is hot, to act quickly when an opportunity presents itself.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English, Old English īren (noun and adj.), perhaps < *īsren, metathesized from īsern, variant of īsen; compare Old Saxon, Old High German, Old Norse īsarn, Gothic eisarn < Germanic *īsarnam, perhaps < Celtic; compare Gaulish Ysarno-, Iserno- (in place names), Old Breton hoiarn, Welsh haearn, Old Irish íarn

Related forms

i·ron·less, adjective

i·ron·like, adjective

un·i·roned, adjective

well-i·roned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To iron

Collins

World English Dictionary

iron (ˈaɪən)

—n
1.	a. steel cast iron wrought iron See also pig iron a malleable ductile silvery-white ferromagnetic metallic element occurring principally in haematite and magnetite. It is widely used for structural and engineering purposes. Symbol: Fe; atomic no: 26; atomic wt: 55.847; valency: 2,3,4, or 6; relative density: 7.874; melting pt: 1538°C; boiling pt: 2862°CRelated: ferric, ferrous, ferro-
	b. (as modifier): iron railings
2.	any of certain tools or implements made of iron or steel, esp for use when hot: a grappling iron; a soldering iron
3.	an appliance for pressing fabrics using dry heat or steam, esp a small electrically heated device with a handle and a weighted flat bottom
4.	any of various golf clubs with narrow metal heads, numbered from 1 to 9 according to the slant of the face, used esp for approach shots: a No. 6 iron
5.	an informal word for harpoon
6.	slang (US) a splintlike support for a malformed leg
7.	great hardness, strength, or resolve: a will of iron
8.	astronomy short for iron meteorite
9.	See shooting iron
10.	strike while the iron is hot to act at an opportune moment

—*adj*
11.	very hard, immovable, or implacable: iron determination
12.	very strong; extremely robust: an iron constitution
13.	cruel or unyielding: he ruled with an iron hand
14.	an iron fist See also velvet a cruel and unyielding attitude or approach

—vb
15.	to smooth (clothes or fabric) by removing (creases or wrinkles) using a heated iron; press
16.	(tr) to furnish or clothe with iron
17.	rare (tr) to place (a prisoner) in irons

Related: ferric, ferrous, ferro-

[Old English irēn; related to Old High German īsan, Old Norse jārn; compare Old Irish īarn]

'ironer

—n

'ironless

—*adj*

'ironlike

—*adj*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

iron

O.E. isærn (with M.E. rhotacism of -s-), from P.Gmc. *isarnan (cf. O.S. isarn, O.N. isarn, M.Du. iser, O.H.G. isarn, Ger. Eisen) "holy metal" or "strong metal" (in contrast to softer bronze) probably an early borrowing of Celt. *isarnon (cf. O.Ir. iarn, Welsh haiarn), from PIE *is-(e)ro- "powerful,

holy," from PIE *eis "strong" (cf. Skt. isirah "vigorous, strong," Gk. ieros "strong"). The verb meaning "press clothes" (with a heated flat-iron) is first recorded 1670s; ironing board is from 1843.

"Right so as whil that Iren is hoot men sholden smyte." [Chaucer, c.1386]

To have (too) many irons in the fire "to be doing too much at once" is from 1540s. Iron lung "artificial respiration tank" is from 1932.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

iron i·ron (ī'ərn)
n.

Symbol Fe A lustrous, malleable, ductile, magnetic or magnetizable metallic element. Atomic number 26; atomic weight 55.847; melting point 1,538°C; boiling point 2,860°C; specific gravity 7.874 (at 20°C); valence 2, 3, 4, 6.
A pill or other medication containing iron and taken as a dietary supplement.

adj.
Made of or containing iron.

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

iron

(ī'ərn) Pronunciation Key
Symbol Fe
A silvery-white, hard metallic element that occurs abundantly in minerals such as hematite, magnetite, pyrite, and ilmenite. It is malleable and ductile, can be magnetized, and rusts readily in moist air. It is used to make steel and other alloys important in construction and manufacturing. Iron is a component of hemoglobin, which allows red blood cells to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide through the body. Atomic number 26; atomic weight 55.845; melting point 1,535°C; boiling point 2,750°C; specific gravity 7.874 (at 20°C); valence 2, 3, 4, 6. See Periodic Table. See Note at element.

Slang Dictionary

iron definition

n.
a gun; a revolver. (Underworld.) : Rocko never carries iron unless he's going to use it.
n.
computer hardware. (See also big iron.) : What kind of iron are you people running over there?

Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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FOLDOC

Computing Dictionary

iron definition

Hardware, especially older and larger hardware of mainframe class with big metal cabinets housing relatively low-density electronics (but the term is also used of modern supercomputers). Often in the phrase big iron. Oppose silicon.
See also dinosaur.
[Jargon File]
(1994-11-04)

Easton

Bible Dictionary

Iron definition

Tubal-Cain is the first-mentioned worker in iron (Gen. 4:22). The Egyptians wrought it at Sinai before the Exodus. David prepared it in great abundance for the temple (1 Chr. 22:3: 29:7). The merchants of Dan and Javan brought it to the market of Tyre (Ezek. 27:19). Various instruments are mentioned as made of iron (Deut. 27:5; 19:5; Josh. 17:16, 18; 1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam. 12:31; 2 Kings 6:5, 6; 1 Chr. 22:3; Isa. 10:34). Figuratively, a yoke of iron (Deut. 28:48) denotes hard service; a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9), a stern government; a pillar of iron (Jer. 1:18), a strong support; a furnace of iron (Deut. 4:20), severe labour; a bar of iron (Job 40:18), strength; fetters of iron (Ps. 107:10), affliction; giving silver for iron (Isa. 60:17), prosperity.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

iron

In addition to the idioms beginning with iron, also see pump iron; strike while the iron's hot.