I. i ‧ ron 1 S2 W3 /ˈaɪən $ ˈaɪərn/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: isern , iren ]
1 . METAL [uncountable] a common hard metal that is used to make steel, is ↑ magnetic , and is found in very small quantities in food and blood. It is a chemical ↑ element : symbol Fe:
the iron and steel industry
a driveway with large iron gates
iron ore (=rock that contains iron)
the absorption of iron from food
⇨ ↑ wrought iron , ↑ cast iron
2 .
FOR CLOTHES [countable] a thing used for making clothes smooth, which has a heated flat metal base
3 . have several irons in the fire to be involved in several different activities or have several plans all happening at the same time:
He has several economic irons in the fire, including gold and diamond mines.
4 .
SPORT [countable] a ↑ golf club made of metal rather than wood:
a 5-iron
5 . CHAINS irons [plural] especially literary a chain used to prevent a prisoner from moving:
leg irons
⇨ a will of iron/an iron will at ↑ will 2 (1), ⇨ pump iron at ↑ pump 2 (8), ⇨ rule somebody/something with a rod of iron at ↑ rule 2 (5), ⇨ strike while the iron’s hot at ↑ strike 1 (27)
II. iron 2 S3 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
to make clothes smooth using an iron SYN press :
Have you ironed my shirt?
⇨ ↑ ironing
iron something ↔ out phrasal verb
to solve or get rid of problems or difficulties, especially small ones:
We need to iron out a few problems first.
III. iron 3 BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
very firm and strong or determined:
He runs the company with an iron fist.