Iron

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: i=ron

CIDE DICTIONARY

Iron, n. [OE. iren, AS. īren, īsen, īsern; akin to D. ijzer, OS. īsarn, OHG. īsarn, īsan, G. eisen, Icel. īsarn, jārn, Sw. & Dan. jern, and perh. to E. ice; cf. Ir. iarann, W. haiarn, Armor. houarn.].

•  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 number 26, atomic weight 55.847. Specific gravity, pure iron, 7.86; cast iron, 7.1. In magnetic properties, it is superior to all other substances.  [1913 Webster]

  " 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)."  [1913 Webster]
•  An instrument or utensil made of iron; -- chiefly in composition; as, a flatiron, a smoothing iron, etc.  [1913 Webster]

  "My young soldier, put up your iron."  [1913 Webster]
•  Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles.  [1913 Webster]

  "Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons."  [1913 Webster]
•  Strength; power; firmness; inflexibility; as, to rule with a rod of iron.  [1913 Webster]
•  An iron-headed club with a deep face, chiefly used in making approaches, lifting a ball over hazards, etc.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

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 or tasks 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, a. [AS. īren, īsen. See Iron, n.].

•  Of, or made of iron; consisting of iron; as, an iron bar, dust.  [1913 Webster]
•  Resembling iron in color; as, iron blackness.  [1913 Webster]
•  Like iron in hardness, strength, impenetrability, power of endurance, insensibility, etc.;

  " 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."  [1913 Webster]

  "Iron years of wars and dangers."  [1913 Webster]

  "Jove crushed the nations with an iron rod."

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) (Archæol.) 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 German, and before that 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 Iron 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, Göthite, 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 forms 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, v. t. 

•  To smooth with an instrument of iron; especially, to smooth, as cloth, with a heated flatiron; -- sometimes used with out.  [1913 Webster]
•  To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff.  Sir W. Scott.  [1913 Webster]
•  To furnish or arm with iron; as, to iron a wagon.

iron out differences resolve differences; settle a dispute.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Iron, n., adj., & v.
--n.
1 Chem. a silver-white ductile metallic element occurring naturally as haematite, magnetite, etc., much used for tools and implements, and an essential element in all living organisms.

Idiom

in irons handcuffed, chained, etc. Iron Age Archaeol. the period following the Bronze Age when iron replaced bronze in the making of implements and weapons. iron-bark any of various eucalyptus trees with a thick solid bark and hard dense timber. iron-bound
1 bound with iron.
2 rigorous; hard and fast.
3 (of a coast) rock-bound. Iron Cross the highest German military decoration for bravery. Iron Curtain a notional barrier to the passage of people and information between the Soviet bloc and the West. iron hand firmness or inflexibility (cf. velvet glove). iron in the fire an undertaking, opportunity, or commitment (usu. in pl.: too many irons in the fire). ironing-board a flat surface usu. on legs and of adjustable height on which clothes etc. are ironed. iron lung a rigid case fitted over a patient's body, used for administering prolonged artificial respiration by means of mechanical pumps. iron maiden hist. an instrument of torture consisting of a coffin-shaped box lined with iron spikes. iron-mould (US -mold) a spot caused by iron-rust or an ink-stain, esp. on fabric. iron-on able to be fixed to the surface of a fabric etc. by ironing. iron out remove or smooth over (difficulties etc.). iron pyrites see PYRITES. iron ration a small emergency supply of food.

Usage

Symb.: Fe.
2 this as a type of unyieldingness or a symbol of firmness (man of iron; will of iron).
3 a tool or implement made of iron (branding iron; curling iron).
4 a household, now usu. electrical, implement with a flat base which is heated to smooth clothes etc.
5 a golf club with an iron or steel sloping face used for lofting the ball.
6 (usu. in pl.) a fetter (clapped in irons).
7 (usu. in pl.) a stirrup.
8 (often in pl.) an iron support for a malformed leg.
9 a preparation of iron as a tonic or dietary supplement (iron tablets).
--adj.
1 made of iron.
2 very robust.
3 unyielding, merciless (iron determination).
--v.tr.
1 smooth (clothes etc.) with an iron.
2 furnish or cover with iron.
3 shackle with irons.

Derivative

ironer n. ironing n. (in sense 1 of v.). ironless adj. iron-like adj.

Etymology

OE iren, isern f. Gmc, prob. f. Celt.

THESAURUS

Iron

Gibraltar, Oregon boat, adamant, adamantine, aluminum, americium, aureate, barium, beryllium, bicycle, bike, bilbo, bismuth, bond, bonds, bone, brass, brassy, brazen, brick, bridle, bronze, bronzy, buff, buffer, cadmium, calcium, calender, camisole, cast-iron, cement, cerium, cesium, chains, chamois, chopper, chrome, chromium, cobalt, collar, concrete, copper, coppery, cuffs, cupreous, cuprous, cycle, diamond, dour, drag, dysprosium, erbium, europium, ferrous, ferruginous, fetter, fetters, firm, flint, flinty, fundamentalist, gadolinium, gag, gallium, germanium, gilt, glazer, gold, gold-filled, gold-plated, golden, goose, grader, granite, grim, gyves, halter, hamper, handcuffs, hard, hard-core, harrow, heart of oak, hidebound, hobbles, holmium, hopples, horse, hot-press, immovable, immutable, implacable, impliable, indium, inelastic, inexorable, inflexible, intransigent, iridium, ironbound, ironclad, ironhanded, ironlike, irons, irreconcilable, lanthanum, lead, leaden, leading strings, leash, lion, lithium, lutetium, magnesia, magnesium, manacle, manganese, mangle, marble, mercurial, mercurous, mercury, minibike, molybdenum, motocycle, motorbike, motorcycle, muscle-bound, muzzle, nails, neodymium, nickel, nickelic, nickeline, niobium, oak, obdurate, obstinate, orthodox, osmium, ox, palladium, pedicab, pewter, pewtery, phosphorus, pig, pillory, plane, platinum, polisher, polonium, potassium, praseodymium, press, procrustean, promethium, protactinium, purist, puristic, puritan, puritanic, quicksilver, radium, reins, relentless, restraint, restraints, rhenium, rigid, rigorist, rigoristic, rigorous, road-bike, rock, rock-ribbed, rockbound, roll, roller, rolling pin, rubidium, ruthenium, samarium, sander, scandium, shackle, silver, silver-plated, silvery, sodium, steamroller, steel, steely, stern, stiff, stocks, stone, straightjacket, straightlaced, strait-waistcoat, straitjacket, straitlaced, stranglehold, strontium, stubborn, tantalum, technetium, terbium, tether, thallium, thulium, tin, tinny, titanium, trail bike, trammel, trammels, tricycle, trike, trowel, tungsten, unaffected, unalterable, unbending, unchangeable, uncompromising, ungiving, unmoved, unrelenting, unyielding, uranium, vanadium, wheel, wolfram, wringer, yoke, ytterbium, yttrium, zinc, zirconium

ROGET THESAURUS

Iron

Resolution

N resolution, determination, will, iron will, unconquerable will, will of one's own, decision, resolution, backbone, clear grit, true grit, grit, sand, strength of mind, strength of will, resolve, firmness, energy, manliness, vigor, game, pluck, resoluteness, zeal, aplomb, desperation, devotion, devotedness, mastery over self, self control, self command, self possession, self reliance, self government, self restraint, self conquest, self denial, moral courage, moral strength, perseverance, tenacity, obstinacy, bulldog, British lion, resolved, determined, strong-willed, strong-minded, resolute, self-possessed, decided, definitive, peremptory, tranchant, unhesitating, unflinching, unshrinking, firm, iron, gritty, indomitable, game to the backbone, inexorable, relentless, not to be shaken, not to be put down, tenax propositi, inflexible, obstinate, steady, earnest, serious, set upon, bent upon, intent upon, steel against, proof against, in utrumque paratus, resolutely, in earnest, in good earnest, seriously, joking apart, earnestly, heart and soul, on one's mettle, manfully, like a man, with a high hand, with a strong hand, at any rate, at any risk, at any hazard, at any price, at any cost, at any sacrifice, at all hazards, at all risks, at all events, a' bis ou a blanc, cost what it may, coute, a tort et a travers, once for all, neck or nothing, rain or shine, spes sibi quisque, celui qui veut celui-la peut, chi non s'arrischia non guadagna, frangas non flectes, manu forti, tentanda via est.

Strength

N strength, power, energy, vigor, force, main force, physical force, brute force, spring, elasticity, tone, tension, tonicity, stoutness, lustihood, stamina, nerve, muscle, sinew, thews and sinews, physique, pith, pithiness, virtility, vitality, athletics, athleticism, gymnastics, feats of strength, adamant, steel, iron, oak, heart of oak, iron grip, grit, bone, athlete, gymnast, acrobat, superman, Atlas, Hercules, Antaeus, Samson, Cyclops, Goliath, tower of strength, giant refreshed, strengthening, invigoration, refreshment, refocillation, dynamics, statics, strong, mighty, vigorous, forcible, hard, adamantine, stout, robust, sturdy, hardy, powerful, potent, puissant, valid, resistless, irresistible, invincible, proof against, impregnable, unconquerable, indomitable, dominating, inextinguishable, unquenchable, incontestable, more than a match for, overpowering, overwhelming, all powerful, all sufficient, sovereign, able-bodied, athletic, Herculean, Cyclopean, Atlantean, muscular, brawny, wiry, well-knit, broad-shouldered, sinewy, strapping, stalwart, gigantic, manly, man-like, manful, masculine, male, virile, unweakened, unallayed, unwithered, unshaken, unworn, unexhausted, in full force, in full swing, in the plenitude of power, stubborn, thick-ribbed, made of iron, deep-rooted, strong as a lion, strong as a horse, strong as an ox, strong as brandy, sound as a roach, in fine feather, in high feather, built like a brick shithouse, like a giant refreshed, strongly, by force, by main force, our withers are unwrung, Blut und Eisen, coelitus mihi vires, du fort au diable, en habiles gens, ex vi termini, flecti non frangi, he that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves an, inflexible in faith invincible in arms.

Smoothness

VB smooth, smoothen, plane, file, mow, shave, level, roll, macadamize, polish, burnish, calender, glaze, iron, hot-press, mangle, lubricate.

Hardness

N hardness, rigidity, renitence, renitency, inflexibility, temper, callosity, durity, induration, petrifaction, lapidification, lapidescence, vitrification, ossification, crystallization, stone, pebble, flint, marble, rock, fossil, crag, crystal, quartz, granite, adamant, bone, cartilage, hardware, heart of oak, block, board, deal board, iron, steel, cast iron, decarbonized iron, wrought iron, nail, brick, concrete, cement, hard, rigid, stubborn, stiff, firm, starch, starched, stark, unbending, unlimber, unyielding, inflexible, tense, indurate, indurated, gritty, proof, adamant, adamantine, adamantean, concrete, stony, granitic, calculous, lithic, vitreous, horny, corneous, bony, osseous, ossific, cartilaginous, hard as a rock, stiff as buckram, stiff as a poker, stiff as starch, stiff as as board.