Iron has 12 different meanings across 4 categories:
Noun · Verb · Adjective · Proper Noun
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
"The old iron fence had finally begun to rust after years of exposure to rain."
a golf club that has a relatively narrow metal head
"He decided to use an iron from his bag because he needed more precision for the shot than a driver could provide."
implement used to brand live stock
"The farmer dragged the hot iron through the herd to mark each calf before they left for market."
home appliance consisting of a flat metal base that is heated and used to smooth cloth
"After hanging her shirt in the steamy laundry room, she grabbed the iron from the counter to press out the wrinkles before packing for work."
A common, inexpensive metal, silvery grey when untarnished, that rusts, is attracted by magnets, and is used in making steel.
"The old toolbox was made of iron and had already begun to rust after sitting outside all winter."
In plain English: Iron is a strong, gray metal used to make things like cars and tools.
"I hung my wrinkled shirt on the iron to smooth out the creases before going out."
Usage: Use "iron" as a noun to refer specifically to the strong, gray metal known for rusting and being magnetic, rather than using it as a verb meaning to smooth fabric or as an adjective describing difficulty. It is often found in everyday items like cast-iron skillets, structural beams, and steel alloys.
To pass an iron over (clothing or some other item made of cloth) in order to remove creases.
"I need to iron my shirt before I leave for the interview tomorrow morning."
In plain English: To iron something means to press it with a hot tool to remove wrinkles from fabric.
"I need to iron my shirt before I go to work."
Usage: Use the verb "iron" when you press hot metal against fabric to smooth out wrinkles. Do not use it for general heating or cooking tasks, as those involve different verbs like "heat" or "fry.
Made of the metal iron.
"The archaeologist carefully examined the iron artifacts, noting that they were of or pertaining to the ancient Iron people who once inhabited the region."
Of or pertaining to the Iron people.
"She folded her iron sheets before hanging them out to dry."
Usage: Use "iron" as an adjective to describe something made of iron metal, such as an iron fence or iron curtain. Avoid using it to mean "Iron people" unless specifically referring to that distinct group in a historical or fictional context.
The 57th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.
"The anthropologist noted that while many neighbors spoke Nart dialects, the village was still predominantly inhabited by Iron speakers from the northern Caucasus region."
A group of Ossetians of the northern Caucasus who speak the Iron Ossetian dialect.
The word iron comes from Old English and shares its ancient roots with the Proto-Indo-European term for blood. While linguists suspect this connection suggests that metal was once associated with life-giving fluids, the word has traveled directly into English to describe the hard, metallic element we know today.