ironing

[ ahy-er-ning ]

noun

1. the act or process of smoothing or pressing clothes, linens, etc., with a heated iron.
2. articles of clothing or the like that have been or are to be ironed.

ironing

/ ˈaɪənɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of ironing washed clothes
2. clothes that are to be or that have been ironed

Word History and Origins

Origin of ironing¹

First recorded in 1700–10; iron + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Rarely has a spy thriller so much resembled a pile of ironing.

From Time

It’s these pressing problems that Umashankar aims to address by reducing the use of charcoal with her solar-power ironing cart.

From Time

Ironing vendors, called “press wallahs,” pushing their carts from one neighborhood to the next are a common sight in India.

From Time

After seven months of researching solutions to the traditional charcoal-heated ironing cart, she started working on a design.

From Time

Pay attention to details Although starching and ironing ribbon may seem over the top, it’s a common practice at Biltmore.

From Washington Post

Like so many other young adult males, 24-year-old New Yorker Mac Bishop does not enjoy ironing his dress shirts.

From The Daily Beast

The view from Court Two at the Tennis Club de Paris was of ironing boards and models dressing for the Céline show on Sunday.

From The Daily Beast

She also mentioned that they had used their ironing board as a table.

From The Daily Beast

Their first dining-room table was a fold-down ironing board in the kitchen.

From The Daily Beast

I can still see her standing for endless hours at the ironing board steaming and reading simultaneously (and smoking).

From The Daily Beast

When dry, iron it on the wrong side, having laid a linen cloth over the ironing-blanket.

From Project Gutenberg

Came Chicago and the technicalities of ironing out the final details of the contract.

From Project Gutenberg

She did the washing and ironing herself, the portiere assisting her in the rest of the household work.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, as you and Marina sat that evening, folding the ironing, what did you discuss?

From Project Gutenberg

So we started just as we were; my wrapping, I remember, was an old ironing blanket, with a large hole burnt in the middle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• housekeeping
• sewing