iron
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
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,168 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 15,784 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.008% of every word in the library.
What it means
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 also: Fe, atomic number 26
- a golf club that has a relatively narrow metal head
- implement used to brand live stock also: branding iron
- home appliance consisting of a flat metal base that is heated and used to smooth cloth also: smoothing iron
verb
- press and smooth with a heated iron also: iron out, press press your shirtsshe stood there ironing
adjective
- extremely robust also: cast-iron an iron constitution
iron in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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So"--the iron face broke for a second into a whimsical grin--"so I offered you a motor.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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Here the victim was tortured for fifty minutes by red-hot iron brands thrust against his quivering body.
The Red Record Tabulated Statistics · Ida B. Wells-Barnett · Chapter 1
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In a sky of iron the points of the Dipper hung like icicles and Orion flashed his cold fires.
Ethan Frome · Edith Wharton · Chapter 1
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Earthquakes leave behind, Where they have tyranniz'd, iron, or lead, or stone; But woe to ruin, violent lust leaves none.
The White Devil · John Webster · Chapter 1
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Iron crows I caused to supply the place of the first; but with all my art I could not make a wheel-barrow.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1