pig-iron

A worker pours molten pig-iron into molds at the foundry.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Crude iron: "pig-iron" refers to the intermediate product of smelting iron ore, typically cast into oblong blocks (called "pigs") and used as a raw material for making steel, wrought iron, or cast iron. It is high in carbon and contains impurities.

Usage Examples

• (Crude iron used in manufacturing.)
• (A characteristic of this raw material.)

Advanced Usage

• "Pig-iron production": the process of smelting iron ore in a blast furnace to produce pig-iron.
  • The country's pig-iron production has increased to meet industrial demand. (The output of crude iron.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pig (n): a single oblong block of pig-iron.

  • Each pig weighs about 50 kilograms. (An individual block of crude iron.)

• Pig-iron furnace (n): a blast furnace used to produce pig-iron.

  • Workers monitor the temperature of the pig-iron furnace carefully. (The furnace for smelting.)

Synonyms

• Crude iron: unrefined iron from the smelting process.
• Cast iron (when referring to a product made from pig-iron, though technically distinct).

Phrasal Verbs

• (None commonly associated with "pig-iron" as a noun.)

Related Idioms

• (No common idioms directly use "pig-iron.")