Iron vs. Irons — What's the Difference?

A strong, magnetic metal.

Household appliances.

Essential dietary mineral.

Branding tools.

Conducts electricity.

Historical torture devices.

Magnetic material.

Golf club type.

Basis for steelmaking.

Handcuffs.

Iron () is a chemical element with symbol Fe (from Latin: ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table.

Symbol Fe A silvery-white, lustrous, malleable, ductile, magnetic or magnetizable, metallic element occurring abundantly in combined forms, notably in hematite, limonite, magnetite, and taconite, and used alloyed in a wide range of important structural materials. Atomic number 26; atomic weight 55.845; melting point 1,538°C; boiling point 2,861°C; specific gravity 7.874 (at 20°C); valence 2, 3, 4, 6. See Periodic Table.

Symbol Fe A silvery-white, lustrous, malleable, ductile, magnetic or magnetizable, metallic element occurring abundantly in combined forms, notably in hematite, limonite, magnetite, and taconite, and used alloyed in a wide range of important structural materials. Atomic number 26; atomic weight 55.845; melting point 1,538°C; boiling point 2,861°C; specific gravity 7.874 (at 20°C); valence 2, 3, 4, 6. See Periodic Table.

An implement made of iron alloy or similar metal, especially a bar heated for use in branding, curling hair, or cauterizing.

An implement made of iron alloy or similar metal, especially a bar heated for use in branding, curling hair, or cauterizing.

Great hardness or strength; firmness

Great hardness or strength; firmness

(Sports) Any of a series of golf clubs having a bladelike metal head and numbered from one to nine in order of increasing loft.

(Sports) Any of a series of golf clubs having a bladelike metal head and numbered from one to nine in order of increasing loft.

A metal appliance with a handle and a weighted flat bottom, used when heated to press wrinkles from fabric.

A metal appliance with a handle and a weighted flat bottom, used when heated to press wrinkles from fabric.

A harpoon.

A harpoon.

Irons Fetters; shackles.

Irons Fetters; shackles.

A tonic, pill, or other medication containing iron and taken as a dietary supplement.

A tonic, pill, or other medication containing iron and taken as a dietary supplement.

Made of or containing iron

Made of or containing iron

Strong, healthy, and capable of great endurance

Strong, healthy, and capable of great endurance

Inflexible; unyielding

Inflexible; unyielding

Holding tightly; very firm

Holding tightly; very firm

To press and smooth with a heated iron

To press and smooth with a heated iron

To remove (creases) by pressing.

To remove (creases) by pressing.

To put into irons; fetter.

To put into irons; fetter.

To fit or clad with iron.

To fit or clad with iron.

To iron clothes.

To iron clothes.

Plural of iron

(uncountable) A common, inexpensive metal, silvery grey when untarnished, that rusts, is attracted by magnets, and is used in making steel.

(dated) shackles

A metallic chemical element having atomic number 26 and symbol Fe.

(nautical) A lack of forward motion. en

Any material, not a steel, predominantly made of elemental iron.

(equestrianism) The stirrups.

(countable) A tool or appliance made of metal, which is heated and then used to transfer heat to something else; most often a thick piece of metal fitted with a handle and having a flat, roughly triangular bottom, which is heated and used to press wrinkles from clothing, and now usually containing an electrical heating apparatus.

Metal shackles; for hands or legs

(usually plural, irons) shackles.

(slang) A firearm, either a long gun or a handgun.

(uncountable) A dark shade of the color silver.

(golf) A golf club used for middle-distance shots.

Used as a symbol of great strength or toughness, or to signify a very strong or tough material.

(weightlifting) Weight used as resistance for the purpose of strength training.

A meteorite consisting primarily of metallic iron (mixed with a small amount of nickel), as opposed to one composed mainly of stony material.

A safety curtain in a theatre.

Dumb bombs, those without guidance systems.

(not comparable) Made of the metal iron.

(figuratively) Strong as of will, inflexible.

(transitive) To pass an iron over (clothing or some other item made of cloth) in order to remove creases.

To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff.

(transitive) To furnish or arm with iron.

The most common and most useful metallic element, being of almost universal occurrence, usually in the form of an oxide (as hematite, magnetite, etc.), or a hydrous oxide (as limonite, turgite, etc.). It is reduced on an enormous scale in three principal forms; viz., cast iron, steel, and wrought iron. Iron usually appears dark brown, from oxidation or impurity, but when pure, or on a fresh surface, is a gray or white metal. It is easily oxidized (rusted) by moisture, and is attacked by many corrosive agents. Symbol Fe (Latin Ferrum). Atomic number 26, atomic weight 55.847. Specific gravity, pure iron, 7.86; cast iron, 7.1. In magnetic properties, it is superior to all other substances.

An instrument or utensil made of iron; - chiefly in composition; as, a flatiron, a smoothing iron, etc.

Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles.

Strength; power; firmness; inflexibility; as, to rule with a rod of iron.

An iron-headed club with a deep face, chiefly used in making approaches, lifting a ball over hazards, etc.

Of, or made of iron; consisting of iron; as, an iron bar, dust.

Resembling iron in color; as, iron blackness.

Like iron in hardness, strength, impenetrability, power of endurance, insensibility, etc.;

Rude; hard; harsh; severe.

Firm; robust; enduring; as, an iron constitution.

Inflexible; unrelenting; as, an iron will.

Not to be broken; holding or binding fast; tenacious.

To smooth with an instrument of iron; especially, to smooth, as cloth, with a heated flatiron; - sometimes used with out.

To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff.

To furnish or arm with iron; as, to iron a wagon.

A golf club that has a relatively narrow metal head

Metal shackles; for hands or legs

Implement used to brand live stock

Home appliance consisting of a flat metal base that is heated and used to smooth cloth

Press and smooth with a heated iron;

Extremely robust;

Iron is used in construction, manufacturing, steel production, and as an essential nutrient in diets.

Golf clubs are called "irons" due to their metal heads, designed for a range of shots based on their size and shape.

Yes, "irons" can refer to branding tools, handcuffs, or any tool made of iron or its alloys.

Iron is a chemical element, while steel is an alloy of iron with carbon and other elements, offering enhanced strength and durability.

Golf irons are categorized by their numbers, which indicate the loft angle, affecting the distance and trajectory of the ball.

Iron mining can affect landscapes, water quality, and biodiversity, necessitating sustainable practices and remediation efforts.

Yes, iron is magnetic, making it useful in various applications, including motors and generators.

Historically, "irons" were used for restraint in prisons, as torture devices, or in domestic settings for clothing and linens.

Yes, iron is highly recyclable, often reused in manufacturing and construction, reducing the need for new raw materials.

It colloquially means to handcuff someone, typically used in law enforcement or historical contexts.

While historically made of iron, modern "irons" (tools or appliances) can be made from various metals or alloys.

Branding irons are heated and applied to livestock skin to mark ownership or identification.

Iron is crucial in technology, used in electronic components, machinery, and as a core material in electromagnets.

Iron deficiency is addressed through diet changes or supplements, emphasizing iron-rich foods like meats and leafy greens.