steel

American  

[steel] / stil /

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 British  

/ stiːl /

noun

1. Danielle, full name Danielle Fernande Schüelein-Steel. born 1950, US writer of romantic fiction

2. 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 British  

/ 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 his heart against her sorrow

   he steeled himself for the blow

steel Scientific  

/ 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.

---

steel Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing steel

• mind like a steel trap

---

Other Word Forms

• presteel noun
• steeliness noun
• steellike adjective
• steely adjective

Etymology

Origin of steel

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

Example Sentences

The Indian steel industry is likely to report a 5%-6% on year gain in domestic volume in the three months ended December, while average prices of hot-rolled coil and rebar likely declined on quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The consortium’s takeover proposal failed to adequately recognize the value of BlueScope’s assets and comes at a time of lower steel spreads in Asia,” the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The fountain “contains deteriorated concrete, corroded structural steel and hazardous materials and its mechanical and electrical systems are beyond repair,” Goodwin said.

From The Wall Street Journal

For a decade, Vietnamese worker Minh did tough jobs like sandblasting ships and welding steel, helping address rapidly ageing Japan's dire labour needs.

From Barron's

“North American steel mills have eyed BlueScope’s North Star mill in Ohio as an attractive asset for a while,” he says in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• brace
• fortify
• gird