IRON, noun i'urn, or i'rn. [Latin ferrum, for herrum. The radical elements of this word are not easily ascertained.]

1. A metal, the hardest, most common and most useful of all the metals; of a livid whitish color inclined to gray, internally composed, to appearance, of small facets, and susceptible of a fine polish. It is so hard and elastic as to be capable of destroying the aggregation of any other metal. Next to tin, it is the lightest of all metallic substances, and next to gold, the most tenacious. It may be hammered into plates, but not into leaves. Its ductility is more considerable. It has the property of magnetism; it is attracted by the lodestone, and will acquire its properties. It is found rarely in native masses, but in ores, mineralized by different substances, it abounds in every part of the earth. Its medicinal qualities are valuable.

2. An instrument or utensil made of iron; as a flat-iron, a smoothing-iron.

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? Job 41:27.

3. Figuratively, strength; power; as a rod of iron Daniel 2:33.

4. Irons, plural fetters; chains; manacles; handcuffs. Psalms 105:18.

I'RON, adjective Made of iron; consisting of iron; as an iron gate; an iron bar; iron dust.

1. Resembling iron in color; as an iron gray color.

2. Harsh; rude; severe; miserable; as the iron age of the world.

IRON years of wars and dangers.

Jove crush'd the nations with an iron rod.

3. Binding fast; not to be broken; as the iron sleep of death.

4. Hard of understanding; dull; as an iron witted fool.

5. Firm; robust; as an iron constitution.

I'RON, verb transitive To smooth with an instrument of iron

1. To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff.

2. To furnish or arm with iron