KJV Dictionary Definition: iron

iron

IRON, n. i'urn, or i'rn. L. 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.

3. Figuratively, strength; power; as a rod of iron. Dan.2.

4. Irons, plu. fetters; chains; manacles; handcuffs. Ps.105.

ironed

I'RONED, pp. Smoothed with an iron; shackled; armed with iron.

ironical

IRON'ICAL, a. Expressing one thing and meaning another. An ironical expression is often accompanied with a manner of utterance which indicates that the speaker intends to be understood in a sense directly contrary to that which the words convey.

ironically

IRON'ICALLY, adv. By way of irony; by the use of irony. A commendation may be ironically severe.