ironwood

noun

iron·​wood ˈī(-ə)rn-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce ironwood (audio)
1
: any of numerous trees and shrubs (such as a hornbeam or hop hornbeam) with exceptionally tough or hard wood
2
: the wood of an ironwood

Examples of ironwood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web About 100 native trees, including desert willows, ironwoods and mesquite, were donated by a local nursery and planted. Cara Buckley, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Its extensive landscaping brings the tiered facades to life, factoring in indigenous plants and trees from all over Turkey and other vegetation, such as mushroom oaks, ironwood, stone pines, and Chinese wisteria. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2024 Nearby, the clifftop resort and surfer haven Uluwatu Surf Villas (from $220) — where Kelly Slater often stays — recently completed an expansion with seven unique teak and ironwood villas that are temples of tropical modernism, and added a skatepark to boot. Kathryn Romeyn, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2023 By then, the animals had left scars on the landscape that may never heal: thousands of intricate goat trails crisscross the precipitous mountainsides, entire groves of ironwood and California lilac have disappeared, and the denuded canyons are eroding. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2023 The decks are made from ironwood, a fire-resistant lumber. Christopher Flavelle, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2023 That’s irony, which is like ironwood but easier for an axe to go through. Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 3 May 2023 Indonesian teak is used for Vela’s decking, ironwood for the hull, while the traditional twin masts are made from carbon. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 5 May 2023 Shitakes need to be grown on a hardwood like oak, ironwood or sugar maple. Joanne Kempinger Demski, Journal Sentinel, 13 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ironwood.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ironwood was in 1657

Dictionary Entries Near ironwood

Cite this Entry

“Ironwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ironwood. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ironwood

noun
iron·​wood -ˌwu̇d How to pronounce ironwood (audio)
1
: any of numerous trees and shrubs with very tough hard wood
2
: the wood of an ironwood

More from Merriam-Webster on ironwood

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