angle-iron

A worker uses an angle-iron to reinforce the corner of a metal frame.

Definition

Noun (countable and uncountable): - A structural steel or iron bar with an L-shaped cross-section, used in construction and engineering for making frameworks, supports, or reinforcements. It is also known as "angle iron" or "angle bar."

Usage Examples

• (A steel bar with an L-shape used for structural support.)
• (A material employed in construction for its load-bearing properties.)

Advanced Usage

• "to use angle-iron as a bracket": to employ an L-shaped steel bar to support a shelf or beam.

  • They attached angle-iron to the wall to hold the heavy shelf. (They used the L-shaped metal as a support bracket.)

• "angle-iron framing": a structural system where angle-iron pieces are bolted or welded together to create a framework.

  • The greenhouse was built with angle-iron framing, making it durable and weather-resistant. (The structure's skeleton was made from L-shaped steel bars.)

Variants and Related Words

• Angle bar (n): another term for angle-iron, especially in British English.

  • The angle bar was bolted to the concrete foundation. (A steel bar with an L-shaped cross-section.)

• Angle steel (n): a more precise term for angle-iron when made of steel.

  • The manufacturer produces angle steel in various sizes for industrial use. (Steel bars with an L-shaped profile.)

Synonyms

• L-beam: a beam with an L-shaped cross-section (often used interchangeably with angle-iron).
• Structural angle: a general term for any L-shaped metal bar used in construction.

Related Idioms

(Note: No common idioms or phrasal verbs exist for this technical term. The word is primarily used in engineering and construction contexts.)