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[ahy-ern] /ˈaɪ ərn/
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.
hearts of iron.
Compare wood1 (def 8).
the blade of a carpenter's plane.
Slang. a pistol.
a harpoon.
Medicine/Medical. a preparation of iron or containing iron, used chiefly in the treatment of anemia, or as a styptic and astringent.
irons, shackles or fetters:
Put him in irons!
a sword.
of, containing, or made of iron:
an iron skillet.
resembling iron in firmness, strength, color, etc.:
an iron will.
stern; harsh; cruel.
inflexible; unrelenting.
strong; robust; healthy.
holding or binding strongly:
an iron grip.
irritating or harsh in tone:
an iron voice.
verb (used with object)
to furnish, mount, or arm with iron.
to shackle or fetter with irons.
verb (used without object)
Verb phrases
iron out,
  1. to iron or press (an item of clothing or the like).
  2. to remove (wrinkles) from by ironing.
  3. to resolve or clear up (difficulties, disagreements, etc.):
    The problem was ironed out months ago.
in irons,
  1. Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) unable to maneuver because of the position of the sails with relation to the direction of the wind.
  2. Nautical. (of a towing vessel) unable to maneuver because of tension on the towing line.
  3. Also, into irons. in shackles or fetters.
irons in the fire, matters with which one is immediately concerned; undertakings; projects:
before 900; Middle English, Old English īren (noun and adj.), perhaps < *īsren, metathesized from īsern, variant of īsen; compare Old Saxon, Old High German, Old Norse īsarn, Gothic eisarn < Germanic *īsarnam, perhaps < Celtic; compare Gaulish Ysarno-, Iserno- (in place names), Old Breton hoiarn, Welsh haearn, Old Irish íarn
Related forms
ironless, adjective
ironlike, adjective
unironed, adjective
well-ironed, adjective Unabridged
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British Dictionary definitions for un-ironed


  1. a malleable ductile silvery-white ferromagnetic metallic element occurring principally in haematite and magnetite. It is widely used for structural and engineering purposes. Symbol: Fe; atomic no: 26; atomic wt: 55.847; valency: 2,3,4, or 6; relative density: 7.874; melting pt: 1538°C; boiling pt: 2862°C See also steel, cast iron, wrought iron, pig iron related adjectives ferric ferrous related prefix ferro-
  2. (as modifier): iron railings
any of certain tools or implements made of iron or steel, esp for use when hot: a grappling iron, a soldering iron
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
an informal word for harpoon (sense 1)
(US, slang) a splintlike support for a malformed leg
great hardness, strength, or resolve: a will of iron
(astronomy) short for iron meteorite
strike while the iron is hot, to act at an opportune moment
very hard, immovable, or implacable: iron determination
very strong; extremely robust: an iron constitution
cruel or unyielding: he ruled with an iron hand
an iron fist, a cruel and unyielding attitude or approach See also velvet (sense 6)
to smooth (clothes or fabric) by removing (creases or wrinkles) using a heated iron; press
(transitive) to furnish or clothe with iron
(transitive) (rare) to place (a prisoner) in irons
See also iron out, irons
Derived Forms
ironer, noun
ironless, adjective
ironlike, adjective
Word Origin
Old English irēn; related to Old High German īsan, Old Norse jārn; compare Old Irish īarn
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for un-ironed



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.


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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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un-ironed in Medicine

iron i·ron (ī'ərn)

  1. Symbol Fe A lustrous, malleable, ductile, magnetic or magnetizable metallic element. Atomic number 26; atomic weight 55.847; melting point 1,538°C; boiling point 2,860°C; specific gravity 7.874 (at 20°C); valence 2, 3, 4, 6.

  2. A pill or other medication containing iron and taken as a dietary supplement.

Made of or containing iron.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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un-ironed in Science
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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Slang definitions & phrases for un-ironed


  1. A motorcycle; motorcycles collectively; Bike, scoot: competing on old British and American iron (1920s+ Motorcyclists)
  2. A car: On this big piece of German iron there's a bumper sticker (1935+)
  3. A firearm, esp a pistol; shooting iron (1775+)
  4. The weights used in weightlifting (1972+)
Related Terms

have brass balls, hot iron, pump iron, shooting iron, waffle-iron

Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.
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un-ironed in the Bible

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.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Idioms and Phrases with un-ironed
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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