iron
Forms
- Plural
- irons
- present (v1)
- iron
- past (v2)
- ironed
- past participle (v3)
- ironed
- present participle
- ironing
- 3rd person singular
- irons
Definitions
1.A common, inexpensive metal, silvery grey when untarnished, that rusts, is attracted by magnets, and is used in making steel: a chemical element having atomic number 26 and symbol Fe.
- Today we studied about metals, including iron, at school.
- They gather one by one, trickling into the shady courtyard, the familiar hum of Mass. Ave. wafting in from behind brick buildings and iron gates.
2.A tool or appliance made of metal, which is heated and then used to transfer heat to something else; most often a thick piece of metal fitted with a handle and having a flat, roughly triangular bottom, which is heated and used to press wrinkles from clothing, and now usually containing an electrical heating apparatus.
3.Any material, not a steel, predominantly made of elemental iron.
4.Any of several other tools traditionally made of wrought iron, now usually of steel.
1.Strong (as of will), inflexible.
- The faces of the gods are iron and their mouths set hard. There is no hope from the gods.
- He held on with an iron grip.
- She had an iron will.
2.Made of the metal iron.
1.To engage in such pressing of clothing.
- They were washing and ironing all morning.
2.To pass an iron over (clothing or some other item made of cloth) in order to remove creases.
- You'd be wise to iron that shirt before you wear it.
- Kathy and I discovered that you can iron your hair straight.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2517
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English iren, from Old English īsern, īsærn, īren, īsen, from Proto-West Germanic *īsarn, from Proto-Germanic *īsarną (“iron”), from Proto-Celtic *īsarnom (“iron”), possibly a derivation from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésh₂r̥ (“blood”).
Cognates