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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
iron

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

i·ron    Audio Help   (ī'ərn)  Pronunciation Key  n.   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. To press and smooth with a heated iron: iron clothes. 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 out To 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 fire An 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.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
iron 

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

iron
adjective
1.	extremely robust; "an iron constitution" [syn: cast-iron]
noun
1.	a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
2.	a golf club that has a relatively narrow metal head
3.	implement used to brand live stock
4.	home appliance consisting of a flat metal base that is heated and used to smooth cloth
verb
1.	press and smooth with a heated iron; "press your shirts"; "she stood there ironing"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

iron

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
iron1 [ˈaiən] noun
iron2 [ˈaiən] noun
iron3 [ˈaiən] noun
iron [ˈaiən] verb
See also: ironing, ironing-board, ironmonger, ironmongery, irons, have several, too many irons in the fire, iron out, strike while the iron is hot

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

iron    Audio Help   (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.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

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)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Iron River, MI (city, FIPS 40980) Location: 46.09884 N, 88.63820 W
Population (1990): 2095 (1107 housing units)
Area: 9.0 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 49935

Iron Belt, WI Zip code(s): 54536

Iron City, GA (town, FIPS 41344) Location: 31.01296 N, 84.81376 W
Population (1990): 503 (200 housing units)
Area: 2.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 31759

Iron City, TN (city, FIPS 37360) Location: 35.02560 N, 87.58368 W
Population (1990): 402 (161 housing units)
Area: 2.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 38463

Iron Ridge, WI (village, FIPS 37150) Location: 43.39756 N, 88.53206 W
Population (1990): 887 (317 housing units)
Area: 1.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 53035

Iron Mountain, MO Zip code(s): 63650

Iron Mountain, MI (city, FIPS 40960) Location: 45.82765 N, 88.06147 W
Population (1990): 8525 (3789 housing units)
Area: 18.7 sq km (land), 1.6 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 49801

Iron River, WI Zip code(s): 54847

Iron Station, NC Zip code(s): 28080

Iron Gates, MO (village, FIPS 35414) Location: 37.06350 N, 94.55695 W
Population (1990): 309 (129 housing units)
Area: 0.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Iron Gate, VA (town, FIPS 40024) Location: 37.79880 N, 79.79058 W
Population (1990): 417 (201 housing units)
Area: 0.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Iron County, WI (county, FIPS 51) Location: 46.32639 N, 90.26154 W
Population (1990): 6153 (5243 housing units)
Area: 1961.4 sq km (land), 419.6 sq km (water)

Iron County, UT (county, FIPS 21) Location: 37.85650 N, 113.27694 W
Population (1990): 20789 (8499 housing units)
Area: 8543.1 sq km (land), 9.4 sq km (water)

Iron County, MO (county, FIPS 93) Location: 37.54610 N, 90.75682 W
Population (1990): 10726 (4700 housing units)
Area: 1428.2 sq km (land), 1.7 sq km (water)

Iron County, MI (county, FIPS 71) Location: 46.20508 N, 88.51385 W
Population (1990): 13175 (9039 housing units)
Area: 3021.2 sq km (land), 115.7 sq km (water)

Iron Junction, MN (city, FIPS 31238) Location: 47.41643 N, 92.60665 W
Population (1990): 133 (52 housing units)
Area: 2.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Iron Mountain Lake, MO (city, FIPS 35430) Location: 37.68508 N, 90.61467 W
Population (1990): 632 (440 housing units)
Area: 5.1 sq km (land), 0.3 sq km (water)

Gilmanton Iron W, NH Zip code(s): 03837

Parkers-Iron Springs, AR (CDP, FIPS 53555) Location: 34.60525 N, 92.32222 W
Population (1990): 3611 (1377 housing units)
Area: 20.8 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)

Iron, MN Zip code(s): 55751

Mountain Iron, MN (city, FIPS 44548) Location: 47.52641 N, 92.62685 W
Population (1990): 3362 (1422 housing units)
Area: 127.8 sq km (land), 7.5 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 55768

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Iron

Bar" i`ron\ See under Iron.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Iron

Har"ness\, n. [OE. harneis, harnes, OF. harneis, F. harnais, harnois; of Celtic origin; cf. Armor. harnez old iron, armor, W. haiarn iron, Armor. houarn, Ir. iarann, Gael. iarunn. Gf. Iron.]

1. Originally, the complete dress, especially in a military sense, of a man or a horse; hence, in general, armor.

At least we 'll die witch harness on our back. --Shak.

2. The equipment of a draught or carriage horse, for drawing a wagon, coach, chaise, etc.; gear; tackling.

3. The part of a loom comprising the heddles, with their means of support and motion, by which the threads of the warp are alternately raised and depressed for the passage of the shuttle.

To die in harness, to die with armor on; hence, colloquially, to die while actively engaged in work or duty.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

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