iron

[I·ron]

Iron can refer to a common metal. It can also be that thing you use to get wrinkles out of your clothing. If you’re planning to wear linen, you might need an iron to smooth it out.

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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 an 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.

Noun
home appliance consisting of a flat metal base that is heated and used to smooth cloth

Noun
a golf club that has a relatively narrow metal head

Noun
implement used to brand live stock

Noun
metal shackles; for hands or legs

Noun
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

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Verb
press and smooth with a heated iron; "press your shirts"

Adjective S.
extremely robust; "an iron constitution"


n.
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.

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

n.
Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles.

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

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

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

n.
Like iron in hardness, strength, impenetrability, power of endurance, insensibility, etc.;

n.
Rude; hard; harsh; severe.

n.
Firm; robust; enduring; as, an iron constitution.

n.
Inflexible; unrelenting; as, an iron will.

n.
Not to be broken; holding or binding fast; tenacious.

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

v. t.
To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff.

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


Iron

I"ron , n. [OE. iren, AS. 'c6ren, 'c6sen, 'c6sern; akin to D. ijzer, OS. 'c6sarn, OHG. 'c6sarn, 'c6san, G. eisen, Icel. 'c6sarn, j'bern, 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 an 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. &hand; 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.
3. pl. Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles.
Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons.
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 , a. [AS. 'c6ren, 'c6sen. 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.
Jove crushed the nations with an iron rod.
(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. &hand; 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'91ol.) 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 , 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 , 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 , 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 ∨ mould, a yellow spot on cloth stained by rusty iron. -- Iron ore , any native compound of iron from which the metal may be profitably extracted. The principal ores are magnetite, hematite, siderite, limonite, G'94thite, turgite, and the bog and clay iron ores. -- Iron pyrites , 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.

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 an 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.

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

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

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Usage Examples

I wrote somewhere during the Cold War that I sometimes wish the Iron Curtain were much taller than it is, so that you could see whether the development of science with no communication was parallel on the two sides. In this case it certainly wasn't.

I never really saw my dad around when the Iron Maiden and the AC/DC were playing. But he knew what I was doing. I was just absorbing music. So he just kind of left me to my own devices.

People may say I developed an iron will, but what really happened is that I made myself much fitter. I think an iron will is always supported by fitness.

I eat a variety of foods like vegetables, fruit and beef for protein and iron.

I like cast iron coated with enamel for longevity and forgiveness if I happen to take my eyes off the prize while pouring Chianti.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

If you lead a country like Britain, a strong country, a country which has taken a lead in world affairs in good times and in bad, a country that is always reliable, then you have to have a touch of iron about you.

Populism is not a style, it's a people's rebellion against the iron grip that big corporations have on our country - including our economy, government, media, and environment.

In the course of history, men come to see that iron necessity is neither iron nor necessary.

Misspelled Form

iron, uiron, 8iron, 9iron, oiron, jiron, kiron, uron, 8ron, 9ron, oron, jron, kron, iuron, i8ron, i9ron, ioron, ijron, ikron, ieron, i4ron, i5ron, itron, ifron, ieon, i4on, i5on, iton, ifon, ireon, ir4on, ir5on, irton, irfon, irion, ir9on, ir0on, irpon, irlon, irin, ir9n, ir0n, irpn, irln, iroin, iro9n, iro0n, iropn, iroln, irobn, irohn, irojn, iromn, iro n, irob, iroh, iroj, irom, iro , ironb, ironh, ironj, ironm, iron .

Other Usage Examples

I remember, when I was a kid, watching my mother jam herself into her girdle - a piece of equipment so rigid it could stand up on its own - and I remember her coming home from fancy parties and racing upstairs to extricate herself from its cruel iron grip.

As iron is eaten away by rust, so the envious are consumed by their own passion.

Money changes all the iron rules into rubber bands.

A sense is what has the power of receiving into itself the sensible forms of things without the matter, in the way in which a piece of wax takes on the impress of a signet-ring without the iron or gold.

But let's just say, I'm Irish. I grew up in the 1950s. Religion had a very tight iron fist.

Comrades, this man has a nice smile, but he's got iron teeth.

A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron.

Stone Age. Bronze Age. Iron Age. We define entire epics of humanity by the technology they use.

Also, I used to think that one day I might get someone to iron my shirts, but the truth is I really like doing them myself.

In no direction that we turn do we find ease or comfort. If we are honest and if we have the will to win we find only danger, hard work and iron resolution.

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