[ahy-ern] 
| 1. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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). |
| 25. | to press clothes, linens, etc., with an iron. |
| 26. | iron out,
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| 27. | in irons,
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| 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. |
| i·ron (ī'ərn) n.
v. tr.
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.] |
iron
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"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.
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.
| 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.
iron
In addition to the idioms beginning with iron, also see pump iron; strike while the iron's hot.