What does "iron" mean?

1. (the metal) a strong, heavy, grey metal that is used to make steel and is attracted by magnets. 2. (clothing tool) an electric tool with a flat, hot bottom that you use to make clothes smooth. 3. (golf club) a type of golf club with a metal head, used for hitting the ball middle distances. 4. (shackles) chains or metal bands used to tie a prisoner's hands or feet together. 5. (gym weights) heavy metal weights used for exercise and building muscle. 6. (to smooth clothes) to use a hot tool to remove wrinkles from clothes. 7. (strong or tough) very strong and not willing to change your mind.

iron — meaning, definition & examples

Word

01the metal

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun Science

n. a strong, heavy, grey metal that is used to make steel and is attracted by magnets.

n. a silvery-grey metallic element (Fe) used extensively in structural engineering and manufacturing; uncountable when referring to the material.

“The old gate was made of heavy iron and had started to rust.”

“The industrial revolution was driven by the mass production of iron, which allowed for the construction of stronger bridges and machinery.”

Synonyms

metal steel

02clothing tool

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. an electric tool with a flat, hot bottom that you use to make clothes smooth.

n. a household appliance with a heated flat surface used to remove wrinkles from fabric.

“I need to buy a new iron because my old one is leaking water.”

“She left the iron face-down on the board, resulting in a scorched triangular mark on her silk blouse.”

Synonyms

flatiron

03golf club

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports

n. a type of golf club with a metal head, used for hitting the ball middle distances.

n. a category of golf clubs with a blade-like metal head, numbered 1 through 9 to indicate loft and distance.

“He chose a seven iron to reach the green from the fairway.”

“The professional golfer opted for a long iron rather than a hybrid, trusting his ability to control the ball's flight in the heavy wind.”

Synonyms

club

Antonyms

woodputter

04shackles

B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun Law Literary

n. chains or metal bands used to tie a prisoner's hands or feet together.

n. metal fetters or shackles used to restrain a prisoner; almost always used in the plural form.

“The prisoner was led away in irons after the trial ended.”

“The historical drama depicted the captives held in heavy irons in the damp hold of the ship.”

Synonyms

shacklesfettershandcuffs

05gym weights

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Sports Slang · Informal

n. heavy metal weights used for exercise and building muscle.

n. a collective term for weights used in resistance training or bodybuilding.

“He spends every morning at the gym pumping iron to get stronger.”

“The veteran bodybuilder spent decades lifting iron, developing a physique that won him numerous national titles.”

Synonyms

weights barbells

06to smooth clothes

A2 · Elementary

v. to use a hot tool to remove wrinkles from clothes.

v. to press fabric with a heated appliance to remove creases; can be used transitively with an object or intransitively.

“Could you iron this shirt for me before the party starts?”

“He spent the evening ironing his suits for the upcoming week of interviews, ensuring every sleeve was perfectly creased.”

Synonyms

press

Antonyms

wrinklecrumple

07strong or tough

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. very strong and not willing to change your mind.

adj. metaphorically strong, inflexible, or determined; often used to describe will or discipline.

“The manager ruled the office with an iron will and never accepted excuses.”

“Her iron discipline allowed her to complete the marathon despite the intense heat and a minor leg injury.”

Synonyms

firm rigid unyielding

Antonyms

weak flexible

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “iron” in context.

Verb

01. extract iron

“The company uses new technology to extract iron from the ore.”

verb + noun

02. iron glows

“The iron glows red when it is heated in the forge.”

noun + verb

03. iron rusts

“If left out in the rain, the iron rusts very quickly.”

noun + verb

04. smelt iron

“Ancient civilizations learned how to smelt iron to create tools.”

verb + noun

Adjective

05. cast iron

“She prefers cooking with a heavy cast iron skillet.”

adj + noun

06. molten iron

“The workers carefully poured the molten iron into the molds.”

adj + noun

07. steam iron

“You should use a steam iron to get the creases out of that shirt.”

adj + noun

Noun

08. bar of iron

“He used a heavy bar of iron to pry the door open.”

noun + prep + noun

09. rich in iron

“Spinach and lentils are both very rich in iron.”

adj + prep + noun

10. scrap iron

“They collect scrap iron to sell to the recycling plant.”

noun + noun

11. have many irons in the fire

“She has many irons in the fire with several business projects starting at once.”

12. rule with an iron fist

“The dictator was known to rule his country with an iron fist.”

From Middle English iren, from Old English īsern, īsærn, īren, īsen, from Proto-West Germanic īsarn, from Proto-Germanic īsarną (“iron”), from Proto-Celtic īsarnom (“iron”), possibly a derivation from Proto-Indo-European h₁ésh₂r̥ (“blood”). Cognates Cognate with Scots airn, ern (“iron”), Yola eeren (“iron”), Saterland Frisian Iersen (“iron”), West Frisian izer (“iron”), Bavarian Eisn (“iron”), Cimbrian aizarn (“iron”), Dutch ijzer (“iron”), German, Luxembourgish Eisen (“iron”), German Low German Isen (“iron”), Limburgish iezer (“iron”), Mòcheno aisn (“iron”), Vilamovian ȧjza (“iron”), West Flemish yzer (“iron”), Yiddish אײַזן (ayzn, “iron”), Danish jern, jærn (“iron”), Faroese jarn (“iron”), Icelandic járn (“iron”), Jamtish járn, jáðn (“iron”), Norwegian Bokmål jern (“iron”), Norwegian Nynorsk jarn, jern, jønn (“iron”), Swedish jern, jaͤrn, järn (“iron”), Gothic 𐌴𐌹𐍃𐌰𐍂𐌽 (eisarn, “iron”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

NOUN

iron(B1)

ferrous iron out technology