steel

[ steel ]

/ stil /

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See synonyms for: steel / steeled / steeler / steelest on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

adjective

pertaining to or made of steel.

like steel in color, hardness, or strength.

verb (used with object)

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.

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Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM steel

steellike, adjectivepre·steel, noun, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH steel

steal, steel , stele

Words nearby steel

stech, Stechhelm, stedfast, steed, steek, steel, steel band, steel blue, steel drum, Steele, steel engraving

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for steel

This stainless steel dishwasher on wheels goes where you need it to go.
Small dishwashers that fit in almost any kitchen|PopSci Commerce Team|August 25, 2020|Popular Science
Each jar was topped with a steel cone into which dogs could put their muzzles.
Viral scents? Dogs sniff out coronavirus in human sweat|Sharon Oosthoek|August 19, 2020|Science News For Students
Brazil and South Korea aggressively expanded steel production.
Unmade in America|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 14, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The steel columns that supported the upper-deck overhang and coverings obstructed views of the action.
MLB’s Newest Ballpark Is A Shift Away From Retro-Era Stadiums|Travis Sawchik|July 16, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

With a laser cutter, they cut some of the patterns into stainless steel and tested them.
Shape-shifting cuts give shoes a better grip|Carolyn Wilke|July 14, 2020|Science News For Students
As a major source for steel during World War II, Sheffield was a frequent target of bombing raids.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker|Ted Gioia|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We made big things like steel for ships and tractors and turbines for hydroelectric plants.
Christmas Is the New Subprime|Doug McIntyre|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, from a pocket inside his camouflage top, he pulled a hidden stainless steel flask.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|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.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We sat in rows of grey steel fold out chairs that faced a model of the compound in Abbottabad.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A leather swordbelt, gold-embroidered at the edges, carried a long steel-halted rapier in a leather scabbard chaped with steel.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
His nose was hooked and rather large, his eyes were blue, bright as steel, and set a trifle wide.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
A colossal steam "traveller" had ceaselessly carried great blocks of stone and long steel girders from point to point.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
He saw a large building, in front of which were long, slender strips of shining steel.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
Woe to the man that first did teach the cursed steel to bite in his own flesh, and make way to the living spirit.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou

British Dictionary definitions for steel (1 of 2)

steel

/ (stiːl) /

noun

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

verb (tr)

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

Derived forms of steel

steely, adjectivesteeliness, noun

Word Origin for steel

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

British Dictionary definitions for steel (2 of 2)

Steel

/ (stiːl) /

noun

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)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for steel

steel

[ stēl ]

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

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