iron

• i‧ron
• 1

  metal

   [uncountable] a common hard metal that is used to make steel, ismagnetic, 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
• 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 will2 (1)

   ; ➔ pump iron

   at pump2 (8)

   ; ➔ rule somebody/something with a rod of iron

   at rule2 (5)

   ; ➔ strike while the iron's hot

  at strike1 (27)

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.