iron

/ˈaɪərn/

/ˈaɪən/

Other forms: irons; ironing; ironed; ironly

Iron can refer to a common metal. It can also be that thing you use to get wrinkles out of your clothing. If you’re planning to wear linen, you might need an iron to smooth it out.

When you use an iron to iron your clothes, you’re also using both the noun and verb form of iron. The noun describes the appliance and the verb describes the action of using it. Iron can also refer to a golf club, like that 5-iron you always use. If you’ve ever been a cattle rancher, you might also be familiar with a branding iron, a tool used to brand skin with a mark of ownership.

Definitions of iron

1. noun

   a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
   synonyms: Fe, atomic number 26

   types:

   alpha iron

   a magnetic allotrope of iron; stable below 906 degrees centigrade

   beta iron

   an allotrope of iron that is the same as alpha iron except that it is nonmagnetic; stable between 768 and 906 degrees centigrade

   gamma iron

   a nonmagnetic allotrope of iron that is the basis of austenite; stable between 906 and 1403 degrees centigrade

   delta iron

   an allotrope of iron that is stable between 1403 degrees centigrade and the melting point (= 1532 degrees)

   ingot iron

   iron of high purity

   cast iron

   an alloy of iron containing so much carbon that it is brittle and so cannot be wrought but must be shaped by casting

   wrought iron

   iron having a low carbon content that is tough and malleable and so can be forged and welded

   galvanized iron

   iron that is coated with zinc to protect it from rust

   pig iron

   crude iron tapped from a blast furnace

   scrap iron

   iron to be melted again and reworked

   structural iron

   iron that has been cast or worked in structural shapes

   alloy cast iron, alloy iron

   cast iron containing alloying elements (usually nickel or chromium or copper or molybdenum) to increase the strength or facilitate heat treatment

   basic iron

   pig iron containing a high percentage of phosphorus; used in making steel by a process that removes the phosphorus

   pot metal

   cast iron used for making cooking wares

   cinder pig

   pig iron containing a substantial proportion of slag

   mine pig

   pig iron made entirely from ore

   spiegel, spiegel iron, spiegeleisen

   pig iron containing manganese; used as a deoxidizing agent and to raise the manganese content in making steel

   Swedish iron

   wrought iron of high purity made in Sweden

   type of:

   metal, metallic element

   any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
2. adjective

   extremely robust
   “an iron constitution”

   synonyms: cast-iron

   robust

   sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction
3. noun

   home appliance consisting of a flat metal base that is heated and used to smooth cloth
   synonyms: smoothing iron

   types:

   flatiron

   an iron that was heated by placing it on a stove

   gauffer, gauffering iron, goffer, goffering iron

   an iron used to press pleats and ridges

   steam iron

   a pressing iron that can emit steam

   travel iron

   a small lightweight iron that can be carried while traveling

   type of:

   home appliance, household appliance

   an appliance that does a particular job in the home
4. noun

   implement used to brand live stock
   synonyms: branding iron

   type of:

   implement

   instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end
5. verb

   press and smooth with a heated iron
   “she stood there ironing”

   synonyms: iron out, press

   types:

   mangle

   press with a mangle

   type of:

   press

   place between two surfaces and apply weight or pressure
6. noun

   a golf club that has a relatively narrow metal head
   types:

   driving iron, one iron

   (golf) the long iron with the most nearly vertical face

   long iron

   an iron with a long shaft and a steep face; for hitting long low shots

   five iron, mashie

   middle-distance iron

   mashie niblick, seven iron

   iron with a lofted face for hitting high shots to the green

   midiron, two iron

   long iron with a nearly vertical face

   niblick, nine iron

   an iron with considerable loft

   putter, putting iron

   the iron normally used on the putting green

   short iron

   an iron with a short shaft and pitched face; for hitting short high shots

   wedge

   (golf) an iron with considerable loft and a broad sole

   pitching wedge

   a wedge used to loft the golf ball over obstacles

   sand wedge

   a wedge used to get out of sand traps

   type of:

   club, golf club, golf-club

   golf equipment used by a golfer to hit a golf ball