What does fer in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word fer in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use fer in French.

The word fer in French means iron, shoe, horseshoe, rail, ferrule, metal tip, iron, branding iron, sword, irons, iron age, be as strong as a horse, have an iron will, arm wrestling, power struggle, accident-prone, clumsy, brand, leave its mark on, railway, flat plan, baccarat chemin de fer, baccara chemin de fer, rack railway, cog railway, rack-and-pinion railway, railways, iron horse, fall of the Iron Curtain, be firmly convinced of , be firmly persuaded of, cross swords, cross swords, Cross my heart and hope to die!, with an iron fist, the Iron Lady, the Eiffel Tower, horseshoe-shaped, concrete reinforcing bar, horseshoe, curling tongs, hair straighteners, iron, soldering iron, soldering iron, tinplate, spearhead, wrought iron, straightening iron, puddled iron, wire, iron grey, Strike while the iron is hot, railway line, iron filings, branded, set upon, scarred, brand, mark for life, iron oxide, steel wool, iron fist, man with an iron fist, woman with an iron fist, railway bridge, David against Goliath, iron curtain, the Iron Curtain, iron constitution, an iron fist in a velvet glove, railroad line, iron will. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word fer

iron

nom masculin (métal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Voici une très jolie boîte en fer.
Here's a very pretty box made of iron.

shoe, horseshoe

nom masculin (chaussure de cheval)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le forgeron remplace un fer au sabot de la jument.
The blacksmith replaced a shoe on the mare's hoof.

rail

nom masculin (transport ferroviaire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le fer est plus écologique que le transport routier.
Travelling by rail is more environmentally friendly than travelling by car.

ferrule, metal tip

nom masculin (embout protecteur)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
J'ai fait mettre des fers à mes bottes.
I put steel toecaps on my boots.

iron, branding iron

nom masculin (marquage de bétail)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les veaux sont marqués au fer rouge.
The calves are branded with a red-hot branding iron.

sword

nom masculin (figuré (épée) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ils aimaient bien croiser le fer lorsqu'ils étaient à l'université.
They really enjoyed crossing swords when they were at university.

irons

nom masculin pluriel (entraves, chaînes)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Il a été arrêté et mis aux fers.
He was arrested and clapped in irons.

iron age

nom masculin (période allant de 2000 à 50 avant J.-C.)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

be as strong as a horse

locution verbale (ne jamais être malade)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have an iron will

locution verbale (ne pas plier face à l'adversité)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

arm wrestling

nom masculin (jeu de force physique) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut avoir de bons biceps pour jouer au bras de fer.
Arm wrestling requires strong biceps.

power struggle

nom masculin (figuré (lutte)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ces deux pays ont entamé un bras de fer diplomatique à propos de la revendication de cette île.
These two countries have been in a diplomatic power struggle regarding the right to lay claim to this island.

accident-prone, clumsy

nom masculin et féminin invariable (personne maladroite)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Il n'est pas très précautionneux, c'est un brise-fer !
He's not very careful; in fact, he's like a bull in a china shop!

brand

locution verbale (marquer au tison)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Auparavant on brûlait les tête de bétail au fer rouge.

leave its mark on

locution verbale (figuré (marquer [qqn] à jamais) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cette épreuve l'a brûlée au fer rouge.

railway

nom masculin (moyen de transport ferré) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le chemin de fer est un moyen de transport très sûr.
The railway is a very safe method of transport.

flat plan

nom masculin (édition : représentation des pages) (publishing)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le chemin de fer sert à savoir où placer les illustrations.
A flat plan is used to show where the illustrations should go.

baccarat chemin de fer, baccara chemin de fer

nom masculin (Cartes : variété de baccara) (card game)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Mon oncle jouait tous les dimanches au chemin de fer.

rack railway, cog railway, rack-and-pinion railway

nom masculin (type de remontée mécanique) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

railways

nom masculin pluriel (société de gestion de voies ferrées) (UK)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
En France, les chemins de fer sont attribués à la SNCF.

iron horse

nom masculin (train) (train, dated)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

fall of the Iron Curtain

nom féminin (fin du bloc communiste européen)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

be firmly convinced of , be firmly persuaded of

(être persuadé de [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

cross swords

locution verbale (se battre)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
D'Artagnan croisait souvent le fer avec les gardes de Richelieu.

cross swords

locution verbale (figuré (s'affronter) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ces deux députés croisent souvent le fer.

Cross my heart and hope to die!

(que je meure si je mens)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
C'est promis, je le ferai ! Croix de bois, croix de fer, si je mens, je vais en enfer !

with an iron fist

locution adverbiale (figuré (fermement) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
C'est un père très autoritaire qui dirige toute sa famille d'une main de fer.

the Iron Lady

nom propre féminin (Margaret Thatcher) (former British prime minister)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Margaret Thatcher, surnommée la Dame de Fer, s'est éteinte en 2013 à l'âge de 87 ans.

the Eiffel Tower

nom propre féminin (la Tour Eiffel) (French landmark)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

horseshoe-shaped

locution adverbiale (en demi-cercle)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
L'escalier en fer à cheval du château de Fontainebleau est célèbre.

concrete reinforcing bar

nom masculin (tige) (construction)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le béton armé est constitué par l'insertion de fers à béton.

horseshoe

nom masculin (fer pour pied de cheval)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Trouver un fer à cheval porterait bonheur.
Finding a horseshoe brings good luck.

curling tongs

nom masculin (cheveux : appareil à boucler) (hair)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Le coiffeur appliqua le fer à friser sur la chevelure.
The hairdresser applied the curling tongs to the hair.

hair straighteners

nom masculin (appareil de coiffure)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Jeanne passa ses cheveux au fer à lisser.

iron

nom masculin (ustensile pour défroisser le linge)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les fers à repasser sont généralement à vapeur.
Irons generally have a steam function.

soldering iron

nom masculin (chalumeau)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le plombier prépara son fer à souder.
The plumber prepared his soldering iron.

soldering iron

nom masculin (fer à braser)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le technicien fixait les composants au fer à souder.
The technician attached his components using a soldering iron.

tinplate

nom masculin (acier recouvert d'étain) (metalwork)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Une tôle en fer-blanc protège notre garage de la pluie.

spearhead

nom masculin (figuré (meilleur atout, meilleur produit)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette gamme est le fer de lance de la production.
This product range is the spearhead of the operation.

wrought iron

nom masculin (métal : fer travaillé par le forgeron)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce portail en fer forgé a fière allure.
That's a fine-looking wrought-iron gate.

straightening iron

nom masculin (fer à cheveux)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

puddled iron

nom masculin (fer purifié) (metalwork)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le fer puddlé est obtenu après le raffinage de la fonte.

wire

nom masculin (brin de fer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il fait des sculptures en fil de fer.
He makes sculptures out of wire.

iron grey

adjectif invariable (nuance de gris) (UK)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Strike while the iron is hot

(figuré (c'est le bon moment pour agir) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

railway line

nom féminin (ligne de train)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

iron filings

nom féminin (poussière de métal)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
La limaille de fer est de la poudre métallique grossière ou les rognures résultant de l'usage du tour sur du métal.

branded

locution adjectivale (tatoué) (cattle, etc.)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Son troupeau est marqué au fer.

set upon

locution adjectivale (figuré (lynché)

(verb, past participle: Verb form used descriptively or to form verbs--for example, "the locked door," "The door has been locked.")
Marqué au fer par des voyous, Paul a été conduit aux urgences.

scarred

locution adjectivale (figuré (traumatisé) (figurative)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Marqués au fer, les témoins de l'attentat font chaque nuit des cauchemars.

brand

verbe transitif (tatouer sans ménagement)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Auparavant on marquait les prisonniers au fer rouge.

mark for life

verbe transitif (figuré (faire [qch] à [qqn] sans le ménager) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
La vie a marqué notre famille au fer rouge.

iron oxide

nom masculin (fer oxygéné) (chemical compound)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

steel wool

nom féminin (copeaux de fer abrasifs)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

iron fist

nom féminin (figuré (autoritarisme) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

man with an iron fist, woman with an iron fist

nom féminin (figuré (personne autoritaire) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

railway bridge

nom masculin (pont pour trains) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Gustave Eiffel a construit beaucoup de ponts de chemin de fer.

David against Goliath

(lutte inégale) (figurative)

iron curtain

nom masculin (rideau en fer) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

the Iron Curtain

nom propre masculin (Europe : séparation entre Ouest et Est) (East-West divide: historical)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

iron constitution

nom féminin (excellente santé)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

an iron fist in a velvet glove

(figuré ([qqn] d'apparence douce mais ferme) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Méfiez-vous des apparences, Pierre est une main de fer dans un gant de velours.

railroad line

nom féminin (rails) (US)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette gare est saturée et il n'est pas possible d'ajouter de voies de chemins de fer.

iron will

nom féminin (volonté inflexible)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

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Related words of fer

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