iron
iron — 形容詞
1. Describes clothing or fabric that has been pressed with a heated household devic
熨燙過的
用熨斗燙平的（衣物）
Describes clothing or fabric that has been pressed with a heated household device to remove wrinkles and make the surface flat and neat.
Guo wore a neatly ironed white shirt to the job interview.
Guo 穿著一件熨燙整齊的白襯衫去參加工作面試。
adverb + adjective: neatly ironed
The hotel laundry returned all the sheets freshly ironed and folded.
飯店的洗衣房把所有的床單都熨好摺好送回來了。
Amara never wears jeans that are not ironed — she likes everything crisp.
Amara 絕不穿沒燙過的牛仔褲——她喜歡每件衣服都筆挺。
The tailor handed me a perfectly ironed suit wrapped in tissue paper.
裁縫師傅把一套燙得完美的西裝用薄紙包好交給我。
用法筆記
Commonly modified by adverbs such as 'neatly', 'freshly', 'perfectly', or 'carefully'.
常見錯誤
2. Made of the hard grey metal that is the most common element on Earth, used in co
鐵製的
用金屬鐵打造的
Made of the hard grey metal that is the most common element on Earth, used in construction, machinery, and tools.
The old iron gate creaked loudly every time Xin pushed it open.
那扇舊鐵門在 Xin 每次推開時都會發出吱嘎聲。
collocation: iron gate
Chen's grandmother still cooks in a heavy iron pot that has been in the family for decades.
Chen 的祖母仍然用一個傳了好幾代的沈重鐵鍋做菜。
Iron railings lined the stairs of the 19th-century townhouse.
那棟十九世紀連棟房屋的樓梯兩側裝有鐵欄杆。
The bridge was built with iron beams imported from England in 1885.
這座橋樑使用的是 1885 年從英國進口的鐵樑。
- ferrous
technical term meaning 'containing iron'; used in chemistry and industry, not everyday speech
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'steel' — steel is made from iron with carbon added for extra strength. 'Iron' as an adjective typically refers to older or decorative items, while modern construction uses steel.
3. Having a colour, shine, or hardness that reminds you of the metal iron.
似鐵的
顏色或質地像鐵的
Having a colour, shine, or hardness that reminds you of the metal iron.
The rock had an iron grey colour that caught the morning sunlight.
那塊岩石呈現鐵灰色，在晨光中閃閃發亮。
collocation: iron grey
Diego noticed the iron taste in the water from the old pipes.
Diego 察覺老舊水管出來的水有一股鐵鏽味。
The soil in this region has an iron red tint from the high mineral content.
這個地區的土壤因為礦物質含量高而呈現鐵紅色。
- metallic
broader — can refer to any metal, not specifically iron
用法筆記
Most often used to describe colours (iron grey, iron red) or the metallic taste of blood or old water pipes.
4. Having exceptional personal resilience in body, mind, or character — describes a
強健的；堅韌的
身體、心智或意志極為堅強
Having exceptional personal resilience in body, mind, or character — describes a person or other living being's ability to endure hardship, pain, or pressure without weakening.
Fatima has an iron constitution and almost never catches colds.
Fatima 體格強健，幾乎從來不感冒。
collocation: iron constitution
The marathon runners needed iron willpower to finish in the pouring rain.
跑馬拉松的選手需要鋼鐵般的意志才能在傾盆大雨中跑完全程。
collocation: iron willpower / iron will
Boris's iron nerves made him an excellent emergency room doctor.
Boris 冷靜沉著，這讓他成為一名優秀的急診室醫師。
The old fisherman still had an iron grip despite his age.
那位老漁夫儘管年事已高，雙手仍然非常有力。
Hana's iron determination to finish medical school never wavered.
Hana 完成醫學院的鋼鐵決心從未動搖。
用法筆記
This is a metaphorical sense used before nouns in fixed collocations. Common patterns: 'iron will', 'iron constitution', 'iron nerves', 'iron grip', 'iron discipline'.
常見錯誤
5. Completely fixed and not open to challenge — used of systems, laws, regulations,
嚴厲的；鐵定的
不讓步、不容改變的（規則、態度）
Completely fixed and not open to challenge — used of systems, laws, regulations, regimes, or institutional controls that are strict and cannot be changed or questioned.
The dictator ruled the country with an iron fist for over thirty years.
那位獨裁者用鐵腕統治這個國家長達三十多年。
idiomatic phrase: iron fist — strict, cruel control
The regime's iron grip on the media silenced all independent journalists.
該政權對媒體的鐵腕控制讓所有獨立記者都噤聲了。
The school maintained an iron rule: no phones in class, no exceptions.
那所學校有一條鐵律：上課不准用手機，沒有例外。
Despite protests, the committee stuck to its iron decision to close the library.
儘管有人抗議，委員會仍堅持關閉圖書館的鐵定決定。
- inflexible
direct synonym; 'inflexible rules' cannot be bent or changed
- unyielding
emphasises refusal to give way under pressure
用法筆記
Often carries a negative or severe tone, especially in political contexts ('iron fist', 'iron rule').
iron — 名詞
1. A hard, grey, magnetic metal (chemical symbol Fe) that is the most common elemen
鐵
化學元素 Fe，灰色金屬
A hard, grey, magnetic metal (chemical symbol Fe) that is the most common element on Earth. It is used to make steel and is an essential part of the blood that carries oxygen around the body.
Iron is the main ingredient in steel, which is used to build skyscrapers and bridges.
鐵是鋼鐵的主要成分，用於建造摩天大樓和橋樑。
uncountable: 'Iron is…'
Doctors told Binta she needs more iron in her diet to treat her anaemia.
醫師告訴 Binta 她需要多吃含鐵的食物來治療貧血。
dietary iron: 'iron in her diet'
Spinach, red meat, and lentils are good sources of iron.
菠菜、紅肉和扁豆都是很好的鐵質來源。
The old mines in this region produced high-quality iron for over a century.
這個地區的老礦坑一個多世紀以來一直出產高品質的鐵礦。
Without enough iron, the body cannot produce enough healthy red blood cells.
如果鐵質不足，身體就無法製造足夠的健康紅血球。
用法筆記
As a chemical element, 'iron' is uncountable (no plural). When referring to types or alloys, the plural 'irons' occasionally appears in technical contexts ('different irons were tested'). For dietary contexts, 'iron' is always singular.
常見錯誤
2. An electrical household tool with a flat, pointed metal base that heats up, used
熨斗
用來燙平衣物的家用電器
An electrical household tool with a flat, pointed metal base that heats up, used to press clothes and remove wrinkles.
Oluwaseun plugged in the iron and waited for it to heat up before starting on the shirts.
Oluwaseun 插上熨斗的電源，等它加熱後才開始燙襯衫。
verb + iron: plug in the iron / heat up the iron
Suki bought a new steam iron that makes ironing much faster.
Suki 買了一把新的蒸氣熨斗，讓燙衣服快了很多。
Be careful — the bottom of the iron is very hot and can burn fabric.
小心——熨斗底部非常燙，會燙壞布料。
The hotel room had a small iron and ironing board inside the wardrobe.
飯店房間的衣櫃裡有一把小熨斗和一個燙衣板。
- flatiron
old-fashioned term for a traditional iron heated on a stove
- steam iron
specific type that uses steam for better results
用法筆記
Often appears with 'ironing board' (the padded board you place clothes on while ironing). A 'steam iron' sprays steam to make wrinkles easier to remove. Some irons are cordless and sit on a charging base.
常見錯誤
3. A type of golf club with a thin, angled metal head, used for hitting the ball me
鐵桿
高爾夫球具，金屬桿頭
A type of golf club with a thin, angled metal head, used for hitting the ball medium to short distances with accuracy.
Fumi chose a 7-iron for the shot over the pond because it offered good control.
Fumi 選了一支七號鐵桿來打越過池塘的那一球，因為它的控制性比較好。
numbered: 7-iron, 5-iron, 9-iron, etc.
Professional golfers usually carry several irons in their bag, from a 3-iron to a 9-iron.
職業高爾夫選手通常會在球袋裡放好幾支鐵桿，從三號鐵到九號鐵。
Chen practised hitting with a pitching iron at the driving range every weekend.
Chen 每個週末都在練習場用劈起桿練習擊球。
The coach told Diego to use a short iron for the approach shot to the green.
教練告訴 Diego 用短鐵桿來打接近果嶺的那一桿。
- wood
a golf club with a larger, rounded head, used for long-distance shots
用法筆記
Irons are numbered 1–9; lower numbers (1-iron, 2-iron, 3-iron) hit farther with a lower angle, and higher numbers (7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron) hit shorter distances with a steeper angle. 'Short irons' (8, 9) are for approach shots near the green. The 'pitching iron' is another name for a pitching wedge.
4. Heavy metal chains or rings fastened around a prisoner's wrists or ankles to res
鐐銬；枷鎖
束縛手腳的金屬鍊條
Heavy metal chains or rings fastened around a prisoner's wrists or ankles to restrict movement.
The captive was led into the courtroom with irons on his wrists and ankles.
那名囚犯被帶進法庭時，雙手雙腳都銬著鐐銬。
plural form: 'irons' — always plural in this sense
In the museum, visitors could see the rusted irons used on convicts sent to the colonies.
在博物館裡，參觀者可以看到當年用來鎖住流放犯人的生鏽鐐銬。
Prisoners in the labour camp worked all day in leg irons.
勞改營裡的犯人整天戴著腳鐐工作。
The blacksmith's shop displayed a set of irons once used to restrain runaway slaves.
鐵匠鋪裡展示著一副曾經用來束縛逃離奴隸的鐐銬。
用法筆記
Always used in the plural form 'irons'. 'Leg irons' specifically refers to shackles around the ankles. 'Put in irons' / 'placed in irons' is a historical expression meaning to chain someone up. Modern usage is mostly historical or literary.
常見錯誤
iron — 動詞
1. To press clothes or fabric with a heated household tool to make them flat, smoot
熨燙
用熨斗燙平衣物
To press clothes or fabric with a heated household tool to make them flat, smooth, and free of wrinkles.
Hana irons her uniform every Sunday evening so it is ready for Monday morning.
Hana 每週日晚上都會燙好制服，以便星期一早上穿。
transitive: iron + object (uniform)
Diego hates ironing but he does it anyway because he likes his shirts crisp.
Diego 討厭燙衣服，但他還是會燙，因為他喜歡襯衫筆挺。
gerund form: ironing — common as a noun or -ing verb
The cleaner spent two hours ironing all the curtains before the guests arrived.
清潔人員花了兩個小時把所有的窗簾都燙好，然後客人就到了。
Xin asked whether the hotel can iron his suit for the wedding tomorrow.
Xin 詢問飯店是否可以幫他燙好明天婚禮要穿的西裝。
You should iron linen while it is still slightly damp for the best results.
亞麻布最好在還有些微濕潤的時候燙，效果最佳。
文法句型
iron + object (clothes/fabric)
iron (intransitive: no object needed)
用法筆記
The -ing form 'ironing' is very common, both as a verb ('I am ironing') and as a gerund noun ('I hate ironing'). The past tense and past participle are both 'ironed'. The related noun 'ironing' refers to the task itself ('I have a pile of ironing to do').