Words / B1

EYE-uh-n/ˈaɪən/

Iron is a strong metal used to make tools, machines, and some buildings: made of iron; an iron gate; iron and steel. Steel is iron mixed with carbon, often stronger for modern structures; metal is the general category. Cast iron and wrought iron describe types of work. Iron is also a chemical element (Fe) in food and blood. The household appliance for clothes is a separate sense — at B1 learn iron as the metal first. Iron as a verb (iron a shirt) is the clothes meaning.

Meaning

A strong metal used to make tools, machines, and some buildings.

Examples

• “The old gate is made of iron.”
• “The railings around the park are made of iron.”
• “The bridge was built from iron in the nineteenth century.”

Good to know

made of iron. iron gate / railings. Mixed/stronger: steel. General: metal. Clothes appliance/verb is a different sense.

Near in meaning

metal

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