iron

EYE-urn/ˈaɪ(ə)ɹn/UKEYE-uhn/ˈaɪən/

Pluralirons (some meanings)

Verbirons, ironing, ironed

19 meanings of iron

Practice

1
metalnoununcountable
A hard gray metal that rusts, used to make steel and tools. Your body also needs a little of it from food.
Like the gray metal in a nail or a frying pan.
Iron rusts quickly when it gets wet.
We use iron to make strong tools.
UsageSay some iron for the metal. An iron usually means a tool for pressing clothes.
2
adjective
Built or made from the hard metal iron.
The old house had a heavy iron gate.
They cooked breakfast in a black iron pan.
3
heated appliancenouncountable
A flat metal tool that gets hot and presses wrinkles out of clothes.
Like a warm, flat tool that smooths out crumpled clothes.
She plugged in the iron to press her shirt.
The iron was too hot and scorched the fabric.
4
press clothesverbtransitive
To make clothes flat and smooth using a hot iron.
I need to iron my shirt before the interview.
She ironed the napkins for the dinner party.
UsageSay do the ironing for ironing clothes.
Similarpress
Oppositecrease, crumple, wrinkle
Note
5
hot toolnouncountable
A metal tool that gets hot and is used for a certain job, like styling hair or marking cattle.
She ran the hot iron through her hair to make it straight.
The farmers heated the irons in the fire before marking the young cows.
UsageMostly in names like curling iron and soldering iron.
Note
6
golfnouncountable or uncountable
A golf club with a metal head, used for medium-distance shots.
Like a golf club for shots that are not too long and not too short.
He chose an iron for the shot to the green.
She swung the iron and landed the ball near the hole.
UsageGolfers say a 7-iron or a set of irons.
Note
7
strong-willedadjectivefiguratively
Very strong and firm, like a will that cannot be changed.
Like metal that will not bend no matter how hard you push.
She had an iron will and never gave up.
His iron grip on the team kept everyone in line.
UsageSay an iron will for a very strong will.
Similarinflexible, adamant
Oppositeweak, lax, feeble
Note

Less common meanings

8
nounfigurativelyuncountable
Strength or toughness so great that it seems as hard as metal.
Like comparing a very tough person to hard, unbreakable metal.
The champion had a body of iron and never seemed to tire.
Her nerves were made of iron during the crisis.
UsageSay a will of iron for a very strong will.
Similarsteel, strength, toughness
9
chainsnouncountable or uncountable
Metal chains or rings used to lock up a prisoner's hands or feet.
Like metal handcuffs that hold a prisoner tight.
The guards put the prisoner in irons.
They locked heavy irons around his ankles.
UsageSay a prisoner is in irons: in chains.
Similarshackle, fetter, manacle, chain
10
gunnounslangcountable or uncountable
A gun, such as a handgun or a rifle.
The old cowboy wore his shootin' iron low on his hip.
The robber pulled out his iron and demanded the cash.
UsageAn old or casual word for gun.
Similargun, piece, firearm
Note
11
weightsnouncountable or uncountable
Heavy weights that you lift to build muscle and get stronger.
Like the heavy weights you see people lifting at the gym.
He lifts iron at the gym three times a week.
Lifting iron helped her build strong arms.
UsageSay lift weights; pump iron is gym talk.
Similarweights
12
nouncountable or uncountable
A hand tool that was once made of iron and is now usually made of steel.
She hung the fire irons back on their stand by the fireplace.
Dad kept a tire iron in the trunk in case of a flat.
UsageMostly in names like tire iron.
13
meteoritenouncountable
A space rock that fell to Earth and is made mostly of metal instead of stone.
Like a lump of metal that dropped from the sky instead of an ordinary rock.
The museum's meteorite room has a huge iron that was found in the desert.
When they cut the space rock open, they found it was an iron, made almost entirely of metal.
Note
14
dark graynoununcountable
A dark gray color, like a darker version of silver.
Like silver that has been darkened down toward gray.
The jacket comes in three colors: navy, olive, and iron.
The clouds turned a dull iron before the rain.
Similargunmetal, pewter
15
verbtransitive
To cover or strengthen something by adding iron to it.
Similarreinforce, plate, bind, shoe, strengthen
16
verbarchaictransitive
To lock metal chains or cuffs onto a prisoner's wrists or ankles.
Like putting handcuffs on someone, but with heavy metal chains.
The captain ordered his men to iron the two sailors and lock them below deck for starting a fight.
They ironed the captive before the long march to the fort.
Note
17
fire curtainnounBritishcountable or uncountable
A fireproof screen that drops down to separate the stage from the audience during a fire.
Like a fireproof shutter that comes down to block the flames.
The stage manager lowered the iron at the end of the show.
Theaters test the iron regularly to be sure it still drops smoothly.
18
unguided bombsnounslangcountable or uncountable
Bombs that fall freely and have no system to steer them onto a target.
Like throwing a ball and hoping it lands right, with no way to steer it.
The old jets could only drop iron, not guided weapons.
Crews loaded the bomber with iron for the morning raid.
Note
19
gay mannounderogatoryoffensiveslurdialectalCockneycountable
An insulting slang word for a gay man.
Some drunk at the bar called him an iron and started shoving.
She was furious when a neighbor sneered that her son was an iron.
UsageSay gay man instead.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of iron apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

The word comes from Old English words like īren and īsern, meaning "iron." These go back even further to old Germanic and Celtic words for the metal.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Iron comes from Old English forms including īren and īsern. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English forms mean iron. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English forms descend from earlier Germanic and Celtic words for iron. en.wiktionary.org