- [uncountable] (symbol 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.
- iron gates/bars/railings
- a hut with a corrugated iron roof
- the iron and steel industries
- iron ore (= rock containing iron)
- foods that are rich in 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).
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- rusty
- cast
- corrugated
- …
- make
- produce
- smelt
- …
- rust
- ore
- bar
- gate
- …
- [countable] a tool with a flat metal base that can be heated and used to make clothes smooth
- a steam iron
Extra ExamplesTopics Houses and homesb1- I just need to run an iron over my shirt, then I'm ready.
- Use a cool iron on synthetics.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- hot
- warm
- electric
- …
- use
- [countable] (usually in compounds) a tool made of iron or another metal see also branding iron, grappling iron, soldering iron, tire ironOxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
- hot
- warm
- electric
- …
- use
- irons[plural] 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
- [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.
metal
tool
for prisoners
in golf
Word OriginOld English īren, īsen, īsern, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ijzer and German Eisen, and probably ultimately from Celtic.
Idioms
See iron in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee iron in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishhave several, etc. irons in the fire
- to be involved in several activities or areas of business at the same time, hoping that at least one will be successful
pump iron
- (informal) to do exercises in which you lift heavy weights in order to make your muscles strongerTopics Health and Fitnessc2
rule (somebody/something) with a rod of iron
- to control a person or a group of people very severely
strike while the iron is hot
- (saying) to make use of an opportunity immediately
Check pronunciation:
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