1. 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, Mesua ferrea, cobra's saffron
    
2. A small slow-growing deciduous tree of northern Iran having a low domed shape
   "The ironwood tree's dense, compact form made it an excellent specimen plant";
   - iron tree, iron-tree, ironwood
    
3. 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, Ostrya virginiana

Derived forms: ironwood trees

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

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

Encyclopedia: Ironwood tree