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iron - 14 dictionary results

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i⋅ron

[ahy-ern]

Use iron in a Sentence

–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.

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

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

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

5.	Golf. one of a series of nine iron-headed clubs having progressively sloped-back faces, used for driving or lofting the ball. Compare wood ¹ (def. 8).

6.	a branding iron.

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

8.	the blade of a carpenter's plane.

9.	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.

–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.

–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 phrase

26.

iron out,

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

b.	to remove (wrinkles) from by ironing.

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

—Idioms

27.

in irons,

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

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

c.	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:
bef. 900; ME, OE īren (n. and adj.), perh. < *īsren, metathesized from īsern, var. of īsen; cf. OS, OHG, ON īsarn, Goth eisarn < Gmc *īsarnam, perh. < Celtic; cf. Gaulish Ysarno-, Iserno- (in place names), OBreton hoiarn, Welsh haearn, OIr íarn

Related forms:

i⋅ron⋅less, adjective

i⋅ron⋅like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To iron

Golf Club Fitting
Miura-Mizuno-Butler Fitted outdoors High Tech TrackMan Launch Monitor
www.ButlerIrons.com

Cold Rolled Steel, Online
Bar, Rod, Sheet & Plate, 5000 items "Cut to Size", "No Minimum Order"

SpeedyMetals.com

i·ron (ī'ərn)

Symbol Fe A silvery-white, lustrous, malleable, ductile, magnetic or magnetizable, metallic element occurring abundantly in combined forms, notably in hematite, limonite, magnetite, and taconite, and used alloyed in a wide range of important structural materials. 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 Table at element.
An implement made of iron alloy or similar metal, especially a bar heated for use in branding, curling hair, or cauterizing.
Great hardness or strength; firmness: a will of iron.
Sports Any of a series of golf clubs having a bladelike metal head and numbered from one to nine in order of increasing loft.
A metal appliance with a handle and a weighted flat bottom, used when heated to press wrinkles from fabric.
A harpoon.
irons Fetters; shackles.
A tonic, pill, or other medication containing iron and taken as a dietary supplement.

adj.

Made of or containing iron: iron bars; an iron alloy.
Strong, healthy, and capable of great endurance: an iron constitution.
Inflexible; unyielding: iron resolve.
Holding tightly; very firm: has an iron grip.

v. i·roned, i·ron·ing, i·rons

v. tr.

1. To press and smooth with a heated iron: iron clothes.
2. To remove (creases) by pressing.
To put into irons; fetter.
To fit or clad with iron.

v. intr.
To iron clothes.
Phrasal Verb(s):
iron outTo settle through discussion or compromise; work out.

Idiom(s):
in irons Nautical Lying head to the wind and unable to turn either way.

Idiom(s):
iron in the fireAn undertaking or project in progress: has many irons in the fire this year.

[Middle English iren, from Old English īren; see eis- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Iron

I"ron\ ([imac]"[u^]rn), n. [OE. iren, AS. [=i]ren, [=i]sen, [=i]sern; akin to D. ijzer, OS. [=i]sarn, OHG. [=i]sarn, [=i]san, G. eisen, Icel. [=i]sarn, j[=a]rn, Sw. & Dan. jern, and perh. to E. ice; cf. Ir. iarann, W. haiarn, Armor. houarn.]

1. (Chem.) The most common and most useful metallic element, being of almost universal occurrence, usually in the form of an oxide (as hematite, magnetite, etc.), or a hydrous oxide (as limonite, turgite, etc.). It is reduced on an enormous scale in three principal forms; viz., cast iron, steel, and wrought iron. Iron usually appears dark brown, from oxidation or impurity, but when pure, or on a fresh surface, is a gray or white metal. It is easily oxidized (rusted) by moisture, and is attacked by many corrosive agents. Symbol Fe (Latin Ferrum). Atomic weight 55.9. Specific gravity, pure iron, 7.86; cast iron, 7.1. In magnetic properties, it is superior to all other substances.

Note: The value of iron is largely due to the facility with which it can be worked. Thus, when heated it is malleable and ductile, and can be easily welded and forged at a high temperature. As cast iron, it is easily fusible; as steel, is very tough, and (when tempered) very hard and elastic. Chemically, iron is grouped with cobalt and nickel. Steel is a variety of iron containing more carbon than wrought iron, but less that cast iron. It is made either from wrought iron, by roasting in a packing of carbon (cementation) or from cast iron, by burning off the impurities in a Bessemer converter (then called Bessemer steel), or directly from the iron ore (as in the Siemens rotatory and generating furnace).

2. An instrument or utensil made of iron; -- chiefly in composition; as, a flatiron, a smoothing iron, etc.

My young soldier, put up your iron. --Shak.

3. pl. Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles.

Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons. --Macaulay.

4. Strength; power; firmness; inflexibility; as, to rule with a rod of iron.

Bar iron. See Wrought iron (below).

Bog iron, bog ore; limonite. See Bog ore, under Bog.

Cast iron (Metal.), an impure variety of iron, containing from three to six percent of carbon, part of which is united with a part of the iron, as a carbide, and the rest is uncombined, as graphite. It there is little free carbon, the product is white iron; if much of the carbon has separated as graphite, it is called gray iron. See also Cast iron, in the Vocabulary.

Fire irons. See under Fire, n.

Gray irons. See under Fire, n.

Gray iron. See Cast iron (above).

It irons (Naut.), said of a sailing vessel, when, in tacking, she comes up head to the wind and will not fill away on either tack.

Magnetic iron. See Magnetite.

Malleable iron (Metal.), iron sufficiently pure or soft to be capable of extension under the hammer; also, specif., a kind of iron produced by removing a portion of the carbon or other impurities from cast iron, rendering it less brittle, and to some extent malleable.

Meteoric iron (Chem.), iron forming a large, and often the chief, ingredient of meteorites. It invariably contains a small amount of nickel and cobalt. Cf. Meteorite.

Pig iron, the form in which cast iron is made at the blast furnace, being run into molds, called pigs.

Reduced iron. See under Reduced.

Specular iron. See Hematite.

Too many irons in the fire, too many objects requiring the attention at once.

White iron. See Cast iron (above).

Wrought iron (Metal.), the purest form of iron commonly known in the arts, containing only about half of one per cent of carbon. It is made either directly from the ore, as in the Catalan forge or bloomery, or by purifying (puddling) cast iron in a reverberatory furnace or refinery. It is tough, malleable, and ductile. When formed into bars, it is called bar iron.

Iron

I"ron\ ([imac]"[u^]rn), a. [AS. [=i]ren, [=i]sen. See Iron, n.]

1. Of, or made of iron; consisting of iron; as, an iron bar, dust.

2. Resembling iron in color; as, iron blackness.

3. Like iron in hardness, strength, impenetrability, power of endurance, insensibility, etc.; as: (a) Rude; hard; harsh; severe.

Iron years of wars and dangers. --Rowe.

Jove crushed the nations with an iron rod. --Pope. (b) Firm; robust; enduring; as, an iron constitution. (c) Inflexible; unrelenting; as, an iron will. (d) Not to be broken; holding or binding fast; tenacious. "Him death's iron sleep oppressed." --Philips.

Note: Iron is often used in composition, denoting made of iron, relating to iron, of or with iron; producing iron, etc.; resembling iron, literally or figuratively, in some of its properties or characteristics; as, iron-shod, iron-sheathed, iron-fisted, iron-framed, iron-handed, iron-hearted, iron foundry or iron-foundry.

Iron age. (a) (Myth.) The age following the golden, silver, and bronze ages, and characterized by a general degeneration of talent and virtue, and of literary excellence. In Roman literature the Iron Age is commonly regarded as beginning after the taking of Rome by the Goths, A. D. 410. (b) (Arch[ae]ol.) That stage in the development of any people characterized by the use of iron implements in the place of the more cumbrous stone and bronze.

Iron cement, a cement for joints, composed of cast-iron borings or filings, sal ammoniac, etc.

Iron clay (Min.), a yellowish clay containing a large proportion of an ore of iron.

Iron cross, a Prussian order of military merit; also, the decoration of the order.

Iron crown, a golden crown set with jewels, belonging originally to the Lombard kings, and indicating the dominion of Italy. It was so called from containing a circle said to have been forged from one of the nails in the cross of Christ.

Iron flint (Min.), an opaque, flintlike, ferruginous variety of quartz.

Iron founder, a maker of iron castings.

Iron foundry, the place where iron castings are made.

Iron furnace, a furnace for reducing iron from the ore, or for melting iron for castings, etc.; a forge; a reverberatory; a bloomery.

Iron glance (Min.), hematite.

Iron hat, a headpiece of iron or steel, shaped like a hat with a broad brim, and used as armor during the Middle Ages.

Iron horse, a locomotive engine. [Colloq.]

Iron liquor, a solution of an iron salt, used as a mordant by dyers.

Iron man (Cotton Manuf.), a name for the self-acting spinning mule.

Iron mold or mould, a yellow spot on cloth stained by rusty iron.

Iron ore (Min.), any native compound of iron from which the metal may be profitably extracted. The principal ores are magnetite, hematite, siderite, limonite, G["o]thite, turgite, and the bog and clay iron ores.

Iron pyrites (Min.), common pyrites, or pyrite. See Pyrites.

Iron sand, an iron ore in grains, usually the magnetic iron ore, formerly used to sand paper after writing.

Iron scale, the thin film which on the surface of wrought iron in the process of forging. It consists essentially of the magnetic oxide of iron, Fe3O4>.

Iron works, a furnace where iron is smelted, or a forge, rolling mill, or foundry, where it is made into heavy work, such as shafting, rails, cannon, merchant bar, etc.

Iron

I"ron\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ironed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ironing.]

1. To smooth with an instrument of iron; especially, to smooth, as cloth, with a heated flatiron; -- sometimes used with out.

2. To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff. "Ironed like a malefactor." --Sir W. Scott.

3. To furnish or arm with iron; as, to iron a wagon.

Iron

I"ron\ ([imac]"[u^]rn), n. (Golf) An iron-headed club with a deep face, chiefly used in making approaches, lifting a ball over hazards, etc.

Language Translation for : iron

Spanish: hierro,

German: das Eisen;eisern,

Japanese: 鉄 (の)

More Translations »

iron

n. 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 4.2.0
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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 1680; 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 1549. Iron lung "artificial respiration tank" is from 1932. Ironside, name given to a man of great hardihood or bravery (1297) first applied to Edmund II, king of England (d.1016), later also to Oliver Cromwell and his troops.

Main Entry: iron
Pronunciation: 'I(-&)rn
Function: noun
1 : a heavy malleable ductile magnetic silver-white metallic element that readily rustsin moist air, occurs native in meteorites and combined in most igneous rocks, is the most used of metals, and is vital to biological processes (as in transport of oxygen in the body) —symbolFe; —see ELEMENT table
2 : iron chemically combined <iron in the blood> —iron adjective

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.

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.

iron
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.
[The Jargon File]
(1994-11-04)

Iron

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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iron

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

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Irons
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