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.
a thing or things made of this metal.
a flat strip of this metal used for stiffening, especially in corsets; stay.
a bar of this metal that has one end formed to hold a bit for driving through rock.
steels, stocks or bonds of companies producing this metal.
a sword.
a rounded rod of ridged steel, fitted with a handle and used especially for sharpening knives.
pertaining to or made of steel.
like steel in color, hardness, or strength.
to fit with steel, as by pointing, edging, or overlaying.
to cause to resemble steel in some way.
to render insensible, inflexible, unyielding, determined, etc..
He steeled himself to perform the dangerous task.
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
( as modifier ) See also stainless steel
steel girders
something that is made of steel
a steel stiffener in a corset, etc
a ridged steel rod with a handle used for sharpening knives
the quality of hardness, esp with regard to a person's character or attitudes
stock exchange the quotation for steel shares See also steels
(modifier) resembling steel
steel determination
to fit, plate, edge, or point with steel
to make hard and unfeeling
he steeled his heart against her sorrow
he steeled himself for the blow
Danielle, full name Danielle Fernande Schüelein-Steel. born 1950, US writer of romantic fiction
Baron David ( Martin Scott ). born 1938, British politician; leader of the Liberal Party (1976–88); Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (1999–2003)
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
Steel is a kind of metal alloy that's made of iron and carbon. It's known for being incredibly strong and is often used to build the framework of skyscrapers. It's also helpful to have "nerves of steel." Steel isn't just a kind of metal. A steel can also be the long, rough thing you sharpen knives on. Or if you're one of the Three Musketeers, you probably carry a steel, or a sword. People who are really brave have nerves of steel. And if you want to use steel as a verb, go right ahead: if there's something hard or unpleasant ahead, you'll need to steel yourself to get ready for it.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Spent nuclear fuel is stored in lead and stainless steel casks and bolted into concrete at a specially built pad at Diablo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
The exercise, which runs for 11 days, is a regular summer fixture for South Korea's armed forces and their US allies, designed to steel them for defense against the nuclear-armed North.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
It rolls on meager-looking 17-inch steel wheels that appear to have been rattle-canned with silver paint.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
And in Germany, steel giant Thyssenkrupp warned that record-low levels on the Rhine were threatening raw material deliveries, echoing industry warnings that the waterway could soon become unnavigable.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Across the lot, two people are sitting on the hood of a car facing the water, drinking from steel mugs and eating pastries from greasy paper bags.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
"The first question," says Steel, "is whether or not a unique order exists for these reactions. Once we could prove that there is one, the algorithm to order them became tractable."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
“U.S. Steel will have to obtain Uncle Sam’s permission to do a lot of stuff,” he wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
According to its latest annual report, Goodwin Steel Castings and Goodwin International have delivered a boost to the company's profits, having benefited from economies increasing their defence spending.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
Steel and Trilogy Metals pose no systemic risk to the U.S. economy, nor do they carry enough employment weight to matter politically.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
Steel and stone all crushed and crumbled like wood.
From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
For conventional stainless steels, however, this protection has an important limit.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
Decades ago, scientists observed that some steels performed better when heat treated in the presence of a magnetic field, but the explanations at the time were largely theoretical.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 26, 2026
Fourth-quarter shipments in special steels are expected to be somewhat lower compared to the previous quarter, with stable prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2025
It is often used in the production of cast iron and stainless steels as well as some paint pigments, biofuels and solar panels.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2025
It angers him, and it steels his determination to push northward.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
Scott Mandel steeled himself to fundraise $60,000 for a student trip to Washington, D.C.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
In particular, he steeled himself during a third round when he kept missing fairways but managed to save par after par.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
Tanker driver Baba steeled himself for yet another perilous journey from Ivory Coast to Mali loaded up with desperately needed fuel -- and fear.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2025
Wesley Yates III wiped the sweat already pouring from his forehead and steeled himself for the 40 brutal minutes to come.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2025
But he steeled his nerves and said, “Yes. Um ... three cheers for Tyson!”
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
The challenge of steeling Taiwan against a blockade starts with energy, in particular the liquefied natural gas used to generate nearly half of Taiwan’s electricity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2025
Parents spend months steeling themselves to face an empty nest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2025
They might have been steeling themselves for some thunder and lightning from the fans.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2025
Six months after Evan Gershkovich was arrested by Russian security services, accused of espionage and sent to a notoriously harsh Moscow prison, his family is steeling for an indeterminable wait.
From New York Times ● Sep. 29, 2023
I say nothing, steeling my expression to blankness.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
