iron

American  

[ahy-ern] / ˈaɪ ərn /

noun

1. Chemistry. a ductile, malleable, silver-white metallic element, scarcely known in a pure condition, but much used in its crude or impure carbon-containing forms for making tools, implements, machinery, etc. Fe; 55.847; 26; 7.86 at 20°C.

2. something hard, strong, rigid, unyielding, or the like.

   hearts of iron.

3. an instrument, utensil, weapon, etc., made of iron.

4. an appliance with a flat metal bottom, used when heated, as by electricity, to press or smooth clothes, linens, etc.

5. Golf. one of a series of nine iron-headed clubs having progressively sloped-back faces, used for driving or lofting the ball.

6. a branding iron.

7. any of several tools, structural members, etc., of metals other than iron.

8. the blade of a carpenter's plane.

9. Slang. a pistol.

10. a harpoon.

11. Medicine/Medical. a preparation of iron or containing iron, used chiefly in the treatment of anemia, or as a styptic and astringent.

12. irons, shackles or fetters.

    Put him in irons!

13. a sword.

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adjective

1. of, containing, or made of iron.

   an iron skillet.

2. resembling iron in firmness, strength, color, etc..

   an iron will.

3. stern; harsh; cruel.

   the iron reign of a tyrant.

4. inflexible; unrelenting.

   Our club's iron rule is to treat everyone like family.

5. strong; robust; healthy.

   She lived well into her 90's with a sunny disposition and iron constitution.

6. holding or binding strongly.

   The country is in the icy, iron grip of the beast from the east, bitter Siberian winds that have trapped us in winter.

7. irritating or harsh in tone.

   an iron voice.

verb (used with object)

1. to smooth or press with a heated iron, as clothes or linens.

2. to furnish, mount, or arm with iron.

3. to shackle or fetter with irons.

4. Metalworking. to smooth and thin the walls of (an object being deep-drawn).

verb (used without object)

1. to press clothes, linens, etc., with an iron.

verb phrase

1. iron out

   1. to iron or press (an item of clothing or the like).

   2. to remove (wrinkles) from by ironing.

   3. to resolve or clear up (difficulties, disagreements, etc.).

      The problem was ironed out months ago.

idioms

1. irons in the fire, matters with which one is immediately concerned; undertakings; projects.

   He had other irons in the fire, so that one failure would not destroy him.

2. strike while the iron is hot, to act quickly when an opportunity presents itself.

3. pump iron, to lift weights as an exercise or in competition.

4. in irons,

   1. Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) unable to maneuver because of the position of the sails with relation to the direction of the wind.

   2. Nautical. (of a towing vessel) unable to maneuver because of tension on the towing line.

   3. Also into irons. in shackles or fetters.

iron British  

/ ˈaɪən /

noun

1. 1. a malleable ductile silvery-white ferromagnetic metallic element occurring principally in haematite and magnetite. It is widely used for structural and engineering purposes. Symbol: Fe; atomic no: 26; atomic wt: 55.847; valency: 2,3,4, or 6; relative density: 7.874; melting pt: 1538°C; boiling pt: 2862°C See also steel cast iron wrought iron pig iron

   2. ( as modifier )

      iron railings

2. any of certain tools or implements made of iron or steel, esp for use when hot

   a grappling iron

   a soldering iron

3. an appliance for pressing fabrics using dry heat or steam, esp a small electrically heated device with a handle and a weighted flat bottom

4. any of various golf clubs with narrow metal heads, numbered from 1 to 9 according to the slant of the face, used esp for approach shots

   a No. 6 iron

5. an informal word for harpoon

6. slang a splintlike support for a malformed leg

7. great hardness, strength, or resolve

   a will of iron

8. astronomy short for iron meteorite

9. See shooting iron

10. to act at an opportune moment

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adjective

1. very hard, immovable, or implacable

   iron determination

2. very strong; extremely robust

   an iron constitution

3. cruel or unyielding

   he ruled with an iron hand

4. a cruel and unyielding attitude or approach See also velvet

verb

1. to smooth (clothes or fabric) by removing (creases or wrinkles) using a heated iron; press

2. (tr) to furnish or clothe with iron

3. rare (tr) to place (a prisoner) in irons

iron Scientific  

/ ī′ərn /

1. A silvery-white, hard metallic element that occurs abundantly in minerals such as hematite, magnetite, pyrite, and ilmenite. It is malleable and ductile, can be magnetized, and rusts readily in moist air. It is used to make steel and other alloys important in construction and manufacturing. Iron is a component of hemoglobin, which allows red blood cells to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide through the body. Atomic number 26; atomic weight 55.845; melting point 1,535°C; boiling point 2,750°C; specific gravity 7.874 (at 20°C); valence 2, 3, 4, 6.

2. See Periodic Table See Note at element

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iron More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing iron

• pump iron
• strike while the iron's hot

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Other Word Forms

• ironer noun
• ironless adjective
• ironlike adjective
• unironed adjective
• well-ironed adjective

Etymology

Origin of iron

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English īren (noun and adjective), perhaps from unattested īsren, metathesized from īsern, variant of īsen; compare Old Saxon, Old High German, Old Norse īsarn, Gothic eisarn, from Germanic īsarnam, perhaps from Celtic; compare Gaulish Ysarno-, Iserno- (in placenames), Old Breton hoiarn, Welsh haearn, Old Irish íarn

Example Sentences

Your challenge now is to iron out the IRA and house questions.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

It covers the early production of bronze – a copper and tin alloy – up to the first uses of iron.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Now frozen by British sanctions, the properties have fallen into disrepair, the overgrown lots a blight on an upscale street lined with manicured gardens and iron gates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

All this financial muscle-flexing has allowed Nvidia to maintain its iron grip on the market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

He didn’t slow the iron or look my way.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• rigid
• steely