1 ADJ Irish means belonging or relating to Ireland, or to its people, language, or culture. Irish sometimes refers to the whole of Ireland, and sometimes only to the Republic of Ireland.
2 N‑PLURAL The Irish are the people of Ireland, or of the Republic of Ireland.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Irish is a Celtic language spoken in Ireland, especially in the Republic of Ireland.
Irish|man /a I ə r I ʃmən/ (Irishmen ) N‑COUNT An Irishman is a man who is an Irish citizen or is of Irish origin.
Irish|woman /a I ə r I ʃwʊmən/ (Irishwomen ) N‑COUNT An Irishwoman is a woman who is an Irish citizen or is of Irish origin.
irk /ɜː r k/ (irks , irking , irked ) VERB If something irks you, it irritates or annoys you. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The rehearsal process also irked him increasingly. □ [V n to-inf] I must admit it irks me to see this guy get all this free publicity. □ [V n that] It irks them that some people have more of a chance than others for their voices to be heard. ● irked ADJ [v-link ADJ ] □ Claire had seemed a little irked when he left.
irk|some /ɜː r ksəm/ ADJ If something is irksome , it irritates or annoys you. [FORMAL ] □ …the irksome regulations.
iron ◆◇◇ /a I ə r n/ (irons , ironing , ironed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Iron is an element which usually takes the form of a hard, dark-grey metal. It is used to make steel, and also forms part of many tools, buildings, and vehicles. Very small amounts of iron occur in your blood and in food. □ The huge, iron gate was locked. □ …the highest-grade iron ore deposits in the world.
2 → see also cast iron
3 N‑COUNT An iron is an electrical device with a flat metal base. You heat it until the base is hot, then rub it over clothes to remove creases.
4 VERB If you iron clothes, you remove the creases from them using an iron. □ [V n] She used to iron his shirts. □ [V -ed] …a freshly ironed shirt. ● iron|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ I managed to get all the ironing done this morning.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use iron to describe the character or behaviour of someone who is very firm in their decisions and actions, or who can control their feelings well. □ …a man of icy nerve and iron will.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] Iron is used in expressions such as an iron hand and iron discipline to describe strong, harsh, or unfair methods of control which do not allow people much freedom. □ He died in 1985 after ruling Albania with an iron fist for 40 years.
7 PHRASE If someone has a lot of irons in the fire , they are involved in several different activities or have several different plans.
▸ iron out PHRASAL VERB If you iron out difficulties, you resolve them and bring them to an end. □ [V P n] It was in the beginning, when we were still ironing out problems. [Also V n P ]
I ron Age N‑PROPER The Iron Age was a period of time which began when people started making things from iron about three thousand years ago. □ …the remains of an Iron Age fort.
iron|clad /a I ə r nklæd/ also iron-clad ADJ If you describe a guarantee or plan as ironclad , you are emphasizing that it has been carefully put together, and that you think it is absolutely certain to work or be successful. [EMPHASIS ] □ …ironclad guarantees of safe passage.
I ron Cu r|tain N‑PROPER People referred to the border that separated the Soviet Union and the communist countries of Eastern Europe from the Western European countries as the Iron Curtain .
iron|ic /a I rɒ n I k/ or ironical /a I rɒ n I k ə l/
1 ADJ When you make an ironic remark, you say something that you do not mean, as a joke. □ People used to call me Mr Popularity at high school, but they were being ironic.
2 ADJ If you say that it is ironic that something should happen, you mean that it is odd or amusing because it involves a contrast. □ I find it ironic that after all the motorbike accidents he has had, he should, in the end, die in his bed.
ironi|cal|ly /a I rɒ n I kli/
1 ADV You use ironically to draw attention to a situation which is odd or amusing because it involves a contrast. □ Ironically, for a man who hated war, he would have made a superb war cameraman.
2 ADV [ADV with v] If you say something ironically , you do not mean it and are saying it as a joke. □ Classmates at West Point had ironically dubbed him Beauty.
i ron|ing board (ironing boards ) N‑COUNT An ironing board is a long narrow board covered with cloth on which you iron clothes.
iron|monger /a I ə r nmʌŋgə r / (ironmongers )
1 N‑COUNT An ironmonger is a shopkeeper who sells articles for the house and garden such as tools, nails, and pans. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use hardware dealer 2 N‑COUNT An ironmonger or an ironmonger's is a shop where articles for the house and garden such as tools, nails, and pans are sold. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use hardware store
iron|mongery /a I ə r nmʌŋgəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Ironmongery is articles for the house and garden such as tools, nails, and pans which are sold in an ironmonger's shop. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use hardware
iron|work /a I ə r nwɜː r k/ N‑UNCOUNT Iron objects or structures are referred to as ironwork . □ …the ironwork on the doors.
iro|ny /a I rəni/ (ironies )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Irony is a subtle form of humour which involves saying things that you do not mean. □ Sinclair examined the closed, clever face for any hint of irony, but found none.
2 N‑VAR If you talk about the irony of a situation, you mean that it is odd or amusing because it involves a contrast. □ The irony is that many officials in Washington agree in private that their policy is inconsistent. [Also + of/in ]