iron

iron
iron [ī′ərn]
n.
[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]
1. 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: see the periodic table of elements in the Reference Supplement
2. any tool, implement, device, apparatus, etc. made of iron, as
a) a device with a handle and flat, smooth undersurface, used, when heated, for pressing clothes or cloth; flatiron
b) a rodlike device with a brand at one end, heated for branding cattle: in full branding iron
3. [pl.] iron shackles or chains
4. firm strength; power
5. Slang a pistol
6. 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: see GOLF CLUB
7. Med. a tonic or other preparation containing iron
adj.
1. of or consisting of iron
2. like iron, as
a) firm; unyielding [an iron will]
b) capable of great endurance; strong [an iron constitution]
3. cruel; merciless
vt.
1. to furnish or cover with iron
2. to put (a prisoner) in irons
3. to press (clothes or cloth) smooth or flat with a hot iron
vi.
to iron clothes or cloth
——————
have many irons in the fire or have several irons in the fire
to have or be engaged in many (or several, etc.) activities, enterprises, or the like
——————
in irons
1. shackled with irons; imprisoned
2. Naut. headed into the wind with no way on: said of a sailing vessel that has failed to come about
——————
☆ iron out
to smooth out; eliminate
——————
strike while the iron is hot
to act at the opportune time

English World dictionary. . 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • iron(II) — iron(II) …   English syllables

  • Iron — I ron ([imac] [u^]rn), a. [AS. [=i]ren, [=i]sen. See {Iron}, n.] [1913 Webster] 1. Of, or made of iron; consisting of iron; as, an iron bar, dust. [1913 Webster] 2. Resembling iron in color; as, iron blackness. [1913 Webster] 3. Like iron in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Iron — I ron ([imac] [u^]rn), n. [OE. iren, AS. [=i]ren, [=i]sen, [=i]sern; akin to D. ijzer, OS. [=i]sarn, OHG. [=i]sarn, [=i]san, G. eisen, Icel. [=i]sarn, j[=a]rn, Sw. & Dan. jern, and perh. to E. ice; cf. Ir. iarann, W. haiarn, Armor. houarn.] [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Iron — bezeichnet eine Gemeinde im französischen Département Aisne, siehe: Iron (Aisne) einen Fluss in Frankreich, Nebenfluss des Noirrieu, siehe: Iron (Fluss) ein Album der finnischen Band Ensiferum, siehe: Iron (Album) SRWare Iron, einen Webbrowser… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • IRON —    Iron ore deposits occur in Anatolia and northwest Iran. The metalwas probably first worked as a by product of coppersmelting, and rare small iron objects have been found in Mesopotamian graves since the fourth millennium B.C. Iron was worked… …   Historical Dictionary of Mesopotamia

  • iron — ► NOUN 1) a strong, hard magnetic silvery grey metal, used in construction and manufacturing. 2) a tool or implement made of iron. 3) a hand held implement with a flat heated steel base, used to smooth clothes and linen. 4) a golf club used for… …   English terms dictionary

  • Iron — I ron, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ironed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ironing}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To smooth with an instrument of iron; especially, to smooth, as cloth, with a heated flatiron; sometimes used with out. [1913 Webster] 2. To shackle with irons; to …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Iron-on — Iron ons are images that can be imprinted on fabric. They are frequently used to print onto T shirts.On one side is paper, and on the other is the image that will be transferred in reverse. After placing it on the fabric and either running over… …   Wikipedia

  • iron-on — (adj.) 1959, from IRON (Cf. iron) (v.) + ON (Cf. on) …   Etymology dictionary

  • iron — [adj] hard, tough; inflexible adamant, adamantine, cruel, dense, ferric, ferrous, firm, heavy, immovable, implacable, indomitable, inexorable, insensible, obdurate, relentless, rigid, robust, steel, steely, strong, stubborn, thick, unbending,… …   New thesaurus

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”