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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

iron

/ˈaɪ.ɚn/

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What does iron mean?

noun

  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.
  2. Any material, not a steel, predominantly made of elemental iron.
  3. 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.
More meanings (20)

noun

  1. Any of several other tools traditionally made of wrought iron, now usually of steel.
  2. Shackles.
  3. (slang) A firearm, either a long gun or a handgun.
  4. A dark shade of the color silver.
  5. A golf club used for middle-distance shots.
  6. (figuratively) Used as a symbol of great strength or toughness, or to signify a very strong or tough material.
  7. Weight used as resistance for the purpose of strength training.
  8. A meteorite consisting primarily of metallic iron (mixed with a small amount of nickel), as opposed to one composed mainly of stony material.
  9. A safety curtain in a theatre.
  10. (slang) A dumb bomb, one without guidance systems.
  11. (offensive, slang) A male homosexual.

adjective

  1. Made of the metal iron.
  2. (figuratively) Strong (as of will), inflexible.
  3. Of or pertaining to the Iron people.

verb

  1. To pass an iron over (clothing or some other item made of cloth) in order to remove creases.
  2. To engage in such pressing of clothing.
  3. To furnish, clad, or arm with iron.
  4. (archaic) To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff.

proper noun

  1. The 57th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.
  2. A group of Ossetians of the northern Caucasus who speak the Iron Ossetian dialect.
Wiktionary contributors Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈaɪ.ɚn/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Self-sufficient in coal and iron ore, it has a crude steel production capacity of about 95 million tons, second only to Japan.
United States. Central Intelligence AgencyThe 1992 CIA World FactbookProject Gutenberg ebook #48
Colonel Pyncheon, the claimant, as we gather from whatever traits of him are preserved, was characterized by an iron energy of purpose.
Nathaniel HawthorneThe House of the Seven GablesProject Gutenberg ebook #77
More book examples (3)
On a signal given by a cannon-shot each furnace was to give vent to the molten iron and completely to empty itself.
Jules VerneFrom the Earth to the moon; and, round the moonProject Gutenberg ebook #83
The cannons have their bowels full of wrath, And ready mounted are they to spit forth Their iron indignation ’gainst your walls.
William ShakespeareThe Complete Works of William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg ebook #100
I saw Holmes’s eye darting to right and left among the litter of iron and wood which was scattered about the floor.
Arthur Conan DoyleThe Return of Sherlock HolmesProject Gutenberg ebook #108