steel
- 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.
Origin of steel
Related Words for steel
fortify, gird, brace, prepare, strengthen, embolden, encourage, hearten, harden, cheer, reinforce, inspirit, ready, rally, animateExamples from the Web for steel
Contemporary Examples of steel
As a major source for steel during World War II, Sheffield was a frequent target of bombing raids.
We made big things like steel for ships and tractors and turbines for hydroelectric plants.
Now the lead breacher explained how he cut through the steel doors bin Laden used to seal himself into the compound at night.
The rest is going to wherever that steel is getting outsourced.
It took a special, meticulous kind of person to accomplish the undertaking, someone with brains, patience, and nerves of steel.
Historical Examples of steel
Her struggles met only the unbending, pitiless resistance of steel.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
The doctor there speaks of 'our steel pens,' as if they were not at all uncommon.
The Story of the Invention of Steel PensHenry Bore
The man said he was going to get the strips rolled to make into steel pens.
The Story of the Invention of Steel PensHenry Bore
A helmet fell from his hands on the floor with a ring of steel.
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
"Aye, it is the steel head-piece of the watchman," remarked the archer.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
steel
- 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)steel girders See also stainless steel
- 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 sharesSee also steels
- (modifier) resembling steelsteel determination
- to fit, plate, edge, or point with steel
- to make hard and unfeelinghe steeled his heart against her sorrow; he steeled himself for the blow
Word Origin for steel
Steel
- 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)
Word Origin and History for steel
Old English style, from West Germanic adjective *stakhlijan "made of steel" (cf. Old Saxon stehli, Old Norse, Middle Low German stal, Danish staal, Swedish stål, Middle Dutch stael, Dutch staal, Old High German stahal, German Stahl), related to *stakhla "standing fast," from PIE *stek-lo-, from root *stak- "to stand, place, be firm" (see stay (n.1)). No corresponding word exists outside Germanic except those likely borrowed from Germanic languages. Steel wool is attested from 1896.
"make hard or strong like steel," 1580s, figurative, from steel (n.). Related: Steeled; steeling.
steel
- 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.
Idioms and Phrases with steel
steel
In addition to the idiom beginning with steel
- steel one's heart against
also see:
- mind like a steel trap