steel
Americannoun
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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.
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a thing or things made of this metal.
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a flat strip of this metal used for stiffening, especially in corsets; stay.
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a bar of this metal that has one end formed to hold a bit for driving through rock.
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steels, stocks or bonds of companies producing this metal.
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a sword.
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a rounded rod of ridged steel, fitted with a handle and used especially for sharpening knives.
adjective
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pertaining to or made of steel.
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like steel in color, hardness, or strength.
verb (used with object)
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to fit with steel, as by pointing, edging, or overlaying.
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to cause to resemble steel in some way.
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to render insensible, inflexible, unyielding, determined, etc..
He steeled himself to perform the dangerous task.
noun
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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
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( as modifier ) See also stainless steel
steel girders
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something that is made of steel
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a steel stiffener in a corset, etc
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a ridged steel rod with a handle used for sharpening knives
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the quality of hardness, esp with regard to a person's character or attitudes
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stock exchange the quotation for steel shares See also steels
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(modifier) resembling steel
steel determination
verb
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to fit, plate, edge, or point with steel
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to make hard and unfeeling
he steeled his heart against her sorrow
he steeled himself for the blow
noun
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Danielle, full name Danielle Fernande Schüelein-Steel. born 1950, US writer of romantic fiction
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Baron David ( Martin Scott ). born 1938, British politician; leader of the Liberal Party (1976–88); Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (1999–2003)
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The small manufacturer that paid more for steel components, the retailer who absorbed inflated cost of goods, the family that paid extra for an appliance—none of them will see a check.
Resources groups that have not fared so well in 2025 -- iron ore behemoth Rio Tinto and Anglo American -- are ramping up production of copper to help offset sagging demand for steel and diamonds.
From Barron's
Some specific exports to the U.S., like automobiles and steel, aren’t affected by the U.S. high court decision.
From Los Angeles Times
He used one law, Section 232, to impose tariffs on sectors deemed vital to national security such as steel, and another, Section 301, to tariff China for allegedly unfair trade practices.
But the Canadian economy is being squeezed by other tariffs of up to 50% that target steel, aluminum and forest products.
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.
