(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Iron is an element which usually takes the form of a hard, dark grey metal. It is used to make steel, and also forms part of many tools, buildings, and vehicles. Very small amounts of ~ occur in your blood and in food.
The huge, ~ gate was locked.
...the highest grade ~ ore deposits in the world...
N-UNCOUNT: oft N n
see also cast-~
2.
An ~ is an electrical device with a flat metal base. You heat it until the base is hot, then rub it over clothes to remove creases.
N-COUNT
3.
If you ~ clothes, you remove the creases from them using an ~.
She used to ~ his shirts...
...a freshly ~ed shirt.
VERB: V n, V-ed
~ing
I managed to get all the ~ing done this morning.
N-UNCOUNT
4.
You can use ~ to describe the character or behaviour of someone who is very firm in their decisions and actions, or who can control their feelings well.
...a man of icy nerve and ~ will...
ADJ: ADJ n
5.
Iron is used in expressions such as an ~ hand and ~ discipline to describe strong, harsh, or unfair methods of control which do not allow people much freedom.
He died in 1985 after ruling Albania with an ~ fist for 40 years.
ADJ: ADJ n
6.
If someone has a lot of ~s in the fire, they are involved in several different activities or have several different plans.
PHRASE