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[ahy-ern] /ˈaɪ ərn/

noun
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 , , , .
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 1 (def 8).
6.
a .
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 phrases
26.
iron out,

Idioms
27.
in irons,

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.
/ˈaɪən/
noun
1.

2.
any of certain tools or implements made of iron or steel, esp for use when hot: a grappling iron, a soldering iron
3.
an appliance for pressing fabrics using dry heat or steam, esp a small electrically heated device with a handle and a weighted flat bottom
4.
any of various golf clubs with narrow metal heads, numbered from 1 to 9 according to the slant of the face, used esp for approach shots: a No. 6 iron
5.
an informal word for harpoon (sense 1)
6.
(US, slang) a splintlike support for a malformed leg
7.
great hardness, strength, or resolve: a will of iron
8.
(astronomy) short for iron meteorite
9.
See shooting iron
10.
strike while the iron is hot, to act at an opportune moment
adjective
11.
very hard, immovable, or implacable: iron determination
12.
very strong; extremely robust: an iron constitution
13.
cruel or unyielding: he ruled with an iron hand
14.
an iron fist, a cruel and unyielding attitude or approach See also velvet (sense 6)
verb
15.
to smooth (clothes or fabric) by removing (creases or wrinkles) using a heated iron; press
16.
(transitive) to furnish or clothe with iron
17.
(transitive) (rare) to place (a prisoner) in irons
n.

Old English isærn (with Middle English rhotacism of -s-) “the metal iron; an iron weapon,” from Proto-Germanic *isarnan (cf. Old Saxon isarn, Old Norse isarn, Middle Dutch iser, Old High German isarn, German Eisen) “holy metal” or “strong metal” (in contrast to softer bronze) probably an early borrowing of Celt. *isarnon (cf. Old Irish iarn, Welsh haiarn), from PIE *is-(e)ro- “powerful, holy,” from PIE *eis “strong” (cf. Sanskrit isirah “vigorous, strong,” Greek ieros “strong”).

Right so as whil that Iren is hoot men sholden smyte. [Chaucer, c.1386]

Chemical symbol Fe is from the Latin word for the metal, ferrum (see ferro-). Meaning “metal device used to press or smooth clothes” is from 1610s. The adjective is Old English iren, isern. To have (too) many irons in the fire “to be doing too much at once” is from 1540s. Iron lung “artificial respiration tank” is from 1932.

v.

c.1400, irenen, “to make of iron,” from iron (n.). Meaning “press clothes” (with a heated flat-iron) is recorded from 1670s. Related: Ironed; ironing.

iron i·ron (ī’ərn)
n.

adj.
Made of or containing iron.
iron
(ī’ərn)
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.

noun

Related Terms

have brass balls, hot iron, pump iron, shooting iron, waffle-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.
[Jargon File]
(1994-11-04)

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.