很多人都是在寻找着一条近路，出国考试很麻烦，于是有人嫁老外；等红绿灯很麻烦，于是有人闯红灯；背单词很麻烦，于是有人找高频词。在所有的近路之中，寻找高频词这条路还算是最理性的。如果要寻找新托福的高频词的话iron“铁”一定要算是一个，因为这个单词我们可以想到在很多文章中都可以出现，在化学类文章中可以出现，在地质类文章中可以出现，在工业化文章中可以出现。因此，此词荣登托福金属类词汇第一名，丝毫都不会令我们意外。
iron 1
1 / ˈaɪən; US ˈaɪərn; ˋaɪɚn/ n
[U] (chemistry 化) common hard silver-white metallic element capable of being magnetized and used in various forms 铁: cast iron 铸铁 * wrought iron 熟铁 * scrap iron 废铁 * as hard as iron 铁一般的坚硬 * [attrib 作定语] iron ore, ie rock containing iron 铁矿石 * an iron bar, gate, railing, ie made of iron 铁棒﹑ 铁门﹑ 铁栏. =>App 10 见附录10.
[C] implement with a smooth flat base that can be heated to smooth clothes, etc 熨斗: a `steam-iron 蒸汽熨斗. =>illus 见插图.
[C] (esp in compounds 尤用以构成复合词) tool made of iron 铁制的工具: `fire-irons, ie poker, tongs, etc used at a fireplace * a `branding-iron, eg for marking cattle, etc. =>illus 见插图.
[C] golf-club with an iron or steel head （高尔夫球的）铁头球棒. Cf 参看 wood 4.
[C usu pl 通常作复数] metal splint or support worn on the leg （腿上用的）金属夹板或夹具.
irons [pl] fetters 镣铐: put/clap sb in irons, ie fasten his wrists and ankles in chains 给某人戴上镣铐.
[U] a preparation of iron as a tonic 铁质补剂.
[U, esp attrib 尤作定语] (fig 比喻) (showing) physical strength or moral firmness or harshness 坚强; 刚强; 坚定; 冷酷: have an iron constitution, ie very good health 有钢铁般的强壮体魄 * a man of iron 铁汉 * have a will of iron/an iron will 有钢铁般的意志 * impose an iron rule, ie rule very strictly 施以铁腕.
(idm 习语) an ,iron ,fist/,hand in a ,velvet `glove an appearance of gentleness concealing severity, determination, etc 外柔内刚. have many, etc irons in the fire have many resources available or be involved in many undertakings at the same time 有多种现成手段; 同时参与很多事务. rule with a rod of iron => rule. strike while the iron is hot => strike2.
# the `Iron Age the prehistoric period following the Bronze Age, when iron began to be used for making tools and weapons 铁器时代.
the ,Iron `Curtain (fig 比喻) the frontier separating the former USSR and other communist countries of Eastern Europe from the West, seen by the West as a barrier to information and trade 铁幕（从西方观点看前苏联及东欧共产党国家与西方之间在信息﹑ 贸易等方面的屏障）: life behind the Iron Curtain 铁幕後的生活 * [attrib 作定语] Iron Curtain countries, ie countries of the former Soviet bloc 铁幕国家（即前苏联集团各国）.
`iron foundry foundry where cast iron is produced 铸铁厂.
,iron-`grey adj, n (of the) colour of freshly broken cast iron 铁灰色（的）: ,iron-grey `hair 铁灰色的毛发.
,iron `lung metal case fitted over the whole body, except the head, to provide a person with prolonged artificial respiration by the use of mechanical pumps 铁肺; 人工呼吸器.
`iron-mould (US -mold) n [U] brown mark caused by iron-rust or an ink-stain 铁锈迹; 墨迹.
,iron `rations small supply of (esp tinned) food to be used only in an emergency (by troops, explorers, etc) （部队或探险人员等的）应急口粮（尤指罐头食品）.
`ironstone n [U]
1 (also ,ironstone `china) type of hard-wearing white pottery 硬质陶器; 坚质陶器.
2 hard iron ore 铁矿石.
`ironware / -weə(r); -ˏwɛr/ n [U] (esp domestic) articles made of iron （尤指家用的）铁制用具.
`ironwork n [U] things made of iron, eg gratings, rails, railings 铁制品（如格栅﹑ 铁轨﹑ 栏杆）.
`ironworks n [pl, usu sing v 通常与单数动词连用]; (Brit) place where iron is smelted or where heavy iron goods are made 钢铁厂. iron 2
2 / ˈaɪən; US ˈaɪərn; ˋaɪɚn/ v
[I, Ip, Tn] smooth (clothes, etc) with an iron1(2) （用熨斗）熨平（衣物等）: This material irons well/easily, ie the creases come out quickly. 这种材料很好熨. * She was ironing (away) all evening. 她整个晚上都在熨衣服. * I prefer to iron my shirts while they are still damp. 我喜欢在衬衫尚潮湿时熨烫.
(phr v) iron sth out (a) remove sth by ironing 用熨烫方法去除某物: iron out creases 把皱褶熨平. (b) (fig 比喻) resolve sth by discussion 通过商讨解决: iron out misunderstandings, problems, difficulties, etc 消除误会﹑ 解决问题﹑ 排除困难.
> ironing n [U]
1 action of smoothing clothes with an iron 熨烫.
2 clothes that need to be or have just been ironed 待烫的衣物; 刚熨好的衣物: do the ironing 熨衣服.
# `ironing-board n padded board, usu fitted with adjustable legs, on which clothes are ironed 熨衣板. =>illus at iron 见iron插图.