1. Exceptionally tough or hard wood of any of a number of ironwood trees
   "The ironwood was so dense it dulled the saw blades quickly"
    
2. Handsome East Indian evergreen tree often planted as an ornamental for its fragrant white flowers that yield a perfume; source of very heavy hardwood used for railway ties
   "The ironwood tree's dense timber made it perfect for construction";
   - rose chestnut, ironwood tree, Mesua ferrea, cobra's saffron
    
3. A small slow-growing deciduous tree of northern Iran having a low domed shape
   "The ironwood's dense, compact form made it an excellent specimen plant";
   - iron tree, iron-tree, ironwood tree
    
4. Medium-sized hop hornbeam of eastern North America
   "The ironwood tree's extremely hard wood made it popular for tool handles";
   - Eastern hop hornbeam, ironwood tree, Ostrya virginiana

Derived forms: ironwoods

Type of: angiospermous tree, flowering tree, hop hornbeam, tree, wood

Part of: genus Mesua, genus Ostrya, genus Parrotia, Mesua, Ostrya, Parrotia

Encyclopedia: Ironwood, Michigan