iron
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iron (ī′ərn)
noun
- a white, malleable, ductile, metallic chemical element that can be readily magnetized, rusts rapidly in moist or salty air, and is vital to plant and animal life: it is the most common and important of all metals, and its alloys, as steel, are extensively used: symbol, Fe; at. no., 26
- any tool, implement, device, apparatus, etc. made of iron, as
- a device with a handle and flat, smooth undersurface, used, when heated, for pressing clothes or cloth; flatiron
- a rodlike device with a brand at one end, heated for branding cattle in full branding iron
- iron shackles or chains
- firm strength; power
- Slang a pistol
- Golf any of a set of numbered clubs with metal heads having various lofts; specif., the number 2 iron with little loft, used chiefly for relatively long fairway shots; the number 5 iron with medium loft; and the number 9 iron with much loft, used chiefly for short, lofted shots to the green
- Med. a tonic or other preparation containing iron
Etymology: ME iren < OE (chiefly poetic & prob. dissimilated), var. of isern, isen akin to Goth eisarn) < Gmc *īsarna, akin to early Celt *isarno, prob. via Illyrian *eisarno- < IE base *eis-, to move vigorously; strong, holy (> ire): orig. sense prob. “the strong metal,” in contrast to the softer bronze
adjective
- of or consisting of iron
- like iron, as
- firm; unyielding an iron will
- capable of great endurance; strong an iron constitution
- cruel; merciless
transitive verb
- to furnish or cover with iron
- to put (a prisoner) in irons
- to press (clothes or cloth) smooth or flat with a hot iron
intransitive verb
have many (or several, etc.) irons in the fire
in irons
- shackled with irons; imprisoned
- Naut. headed into the wind with no way on: said of a sailing vessel that has failed to come about
iron out
☆strike while the iron is hot
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alternate definitions:
iron
modif.
Made of iron
ferrous, ferruginous, ironclad, ironcased, ironshod. Having the qualities of iron
hard, robust, strong, firm, indomitable, unyielding, dense, insensible, inflexible, adamant, cruel, stubborn, implacable, heavy; see also firm 2.
iron
n.
A metallic element
pig iron, cast iron, wrought iron, sheet iron, coke, Fe (chemical symbol); see also alloy, metal.An implement or apparatus made, or originally made, of iron
Items referred to as irons include: flatiron, branding iron, golf club, midiron, heavy iron, driving iron, light iron, shackles, manacles, handcuffs, iron pan, sadiron, electric iron, press, mangle, hardware, curling iron.
An appliance for pressing clothes
presser, steam iron, Teflon iron, travel iron, electric iron, press, mangle; see also appliance.
having many irons in the fire
iron
v.
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Converse of object
- corrugate: He awoke behind his blanket of corrugated iron to the sound of German voices.
Adjective modifier
- wrought: Ensure wrought iron or steel gates can not easily be climbed.
Modifies a noun
- ore: The early miners found plenty of iron ore at or near to the surface of the ground.
Noun used with modifier
- cast: I have fond memories of the cast iron range in the front room there.
Particle object: out_obj
- wrinkle: We visited in person to check it was in order and to iron out any wrinkles -- there are always a few.
Preposition: in
- hemoglobin: It is essential to the development of heme, the protein-containing iron in hemoglobin needed to form red blood cells.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
Ihavetamedmenof iron inmyday, shall Inot easilycrush these men of butter?
Don't iron while the strike is hot.
No iron can stab the heart with such force as a full stop put just at the right place.
Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Cite this page:
MLA Style
"iron." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/iron>
APA Style
iron. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/iron
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