iron
iron [iron irons ironed ironing] noun, verb, adjective BrE [ˈaɪən] NAmE [ˈaɪərn]
noun 
METAL
1. uncountable (symb. Fe)a chemical element. Iron is a hard strong metal that is used to make steel and is also found in small quantities in blood and food
•cast/wrought/corrugated iron
•iron gates/bars/railings
•an iron and steel works
•iron ore (= rock containing iron)
•patients with iron deficiency (= not enough iron in their blood)
•iron tablets (= containing iron prepared as a medicine)
• (figurative) She had a will of iron (= it was very strong).
TOOL
2. countable a tool with a flat metal base that can be heated and used to make clothes smooth
•a steam iron
3. countable (usually in compounds)a tool made of iron or another metal
see also ↑branding iron, ↑soldering iron, ↑tire iron
FOR PRISONERS
4. ironsplural chains or other heavy objects made of iron, attached to the arms and legs of prisoners, especially in the past
•leg irons
• (old-fashioned)to clap somebody in irons
IN GOLF
5. countable one of the set of ↑clubs (= sticks for hitting the ball with) that have a metal head
• He hit a magnificent shot with a nine iron.
compare ↑wood
more at pump iron at ↑pump v., rule with a rod of iron at ↑rule v., strike while the iron is hot at ↑strike v.
Word Origin:
Old English īren, īsen, īsern, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ijzer and German Eisen, and probably ultimately from Celtic.
Example Bank:
•I just need to run an iron over my shirt, then I'm ready.
•I was put on iron tablets for my anaemia.
•They mine iron ore locally.
•Use a cool iron on synthetics.
•You can use a curling iron to create soft curls.
•a bridge made of wrought iron
•a hut with a corrugated iron roof
•foods that are rich in iron
•patients with iron deficiency
Idioms: ↑have several irons in the fire ▪ ↑iron fist
Derived: ↑iron something out
verb transitive, intransitive ~ (sth)
to make clothes, etc. smooth by using an ↑iron
•I'll need to iron that dress before I can wear it.
•He was ironing when I arrived.
see also ↑ironing
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Old English īren, īsen, īsern, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ijzer and German Eisen, and probably ultimately from Celtic.
Example Bank:
•Her clothes were always beautifully ironed.
•My jeans need ironing.
•a neat pile of freshly ironed shirts
adjective only before noun
very strong and determined
• She was known as the ‘Iron Lady’.
•a man of iron will
Word Origin:
Old English īren, īsen, īsern, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ijzer and German Eisen, and probably ultimately from Celtic.
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