steel

[ steel ]

noun

1. any of various modified forms of iron, artificially produced, having a carbon content less than that of pig iron and more than that of wrought iron, and having qualities of hardness, elasticity, and strength varying according to composition and heat treatment: generally categorized as having a high, medium, or low-carbon content.
2. a thing or things made of this metal.
3. a flat strip of this metal used for stiffening, especially in corsets; stay.
4. a bar of this metal that has one end formed to hold a bit for driving through rock.
5. steels, stocks or bonds of companies producing this metal.
6. a sword.
7. a rounded rod of ridged steel, fitted with a handle and used especially for sharpening knives.

adjective

1. pertaining to or made of steel.
2. like steel in color, hardness, or strength.

verb (used with object)

1. to fit with steel, as by pointing, edging, or overlaying.
2. to cause to resemble steel in some way.
3. to render insensible, inflexible, unyielding, determined, etc.:

   He steeled himself to perform the dangerous task.

Steel

¹

/ stiːl /

noun

1. SteelDanielle1950MUSWRITING: romantic novelist Danielle, full name Danielle Fernande Schüelein-Steel. born 1950, US writer of romantic fiction
2. SteelDavid (Martin Scott), Baron1938MBritishPOLITICS: politician Baron David ( Martin Scott ). born 1938, British politician; leader of the Liberal Party (1976–88); Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (1999–2003)

steel

²

/ stiːl /

noun

1. 1. any of various alloys based on iron containing carbon (usually 0.1–1.7 per cent) and often small quantities of other elements such as phosphorus, sulphur, manganese, chromium, and nickel. Steels exhibit a variety of properties, such as strength, machinability, malleability, etc, depending on their composition and the way they have been treated
   2. ( as modifier ) See also stainless steel

      steel girders

2. something that is made of steel
3. a steel stiffener in a corset, etc
4. a ridged steel rod with a handle used for sharpening knives
5. the quality of hardness, esp with regard to a person's character or attitudes
6. stock exchange the quotation for steel shares See also steels
7. modifier resembling steel

   steel determination

verb

1. to fit, plate, edge, or point with steel
2. to make hard and unfeeling

   he steeled himself for the blow

   he steeled his heart against her sorrow

steel

/ stēl /

1. Any of various hard, strong, flexible alloys of iron and carbon. Often, other metals are added to give steel a particular property, such as chromium and nickel to make it stainless. Steel is widely used in many kinds of tools and as a structural material in building.

Derived Forms

• ˈsteeliness, noun
• ˈsteely, adjective

Other Words From

• steellike adjective
• pre·steel noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of steel¹

before 900; (noun) Middle English stele, Old English (north) stēle; cognate with Dutch staal, German Stahl, Old Norse stāl; (v.) Middle English stelen, Old English styled edged with steel, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of steel¹

Old English stēli; related to Old High German stehli, Middle Dutch stael

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with steel , also see mind like a steel trap .

Example Sentences

This stainless steel dishwasher on wheels goes where you need it to go.

From Popular-Science

Each jar was topped with a steel cone into which dogs could put their muzzles.

From Science News For Students

Brazil and South Korea aggressively expanded steel production.

From MIT Technology Review

The steel columns that supported the upper-deck overhang and coverings obstructed views of the action.

From FiveThirtyEight

With a laser cutter, they cut some of the patterns into stainless steel and tested them.

From Science News For Students

As a major source for steel during World War II, Sheffield was a frequent target of bombing raids.

From The Daily Beast

We made big things like steel for ships and tractors and turbines for hydroelectric plants.

From The Daily Beast

Then, from a pocket inside his camouflage top, he pulled a hidden stainless steel flask.

From The Daily Beast

Now the lead breacher explained how he cut through the steel doors bin Laden used to seal himself into the compound at night.

From The Daily Beast

We sat in rows of grey steel fold out chairs that faced a model of the compound in Abbottabad.

From The Daily Beast

A leather swordbelt, gold-embroidered at the edges, carried a long steel-halted rapier in a leather scabbard chaped with steel.

From Project Gutenberg

His nose was hooked and rather large, his eyes were blue, bright as steel, and set a trifle wide.

From Project Gutenberg

A colossal steam "traveller" had ceaselessly carried great blocks of stone and long steel girders from point to point.

From Project Gutenberg

He saw a large building, in front of which were long, slender strips of shining steel.

From Project Gutenberg

Woe to the man that first did teach the cursed steel to bite in his own flesh, and make way to the living spirit.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brace
• fortify
• gird