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.

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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)

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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

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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.

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steel Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing steel

• mind like a steel trap

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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

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

A central steel core holds together 90 segments — “slices of cheese” as O’Mahony called them — that repeat all the way to the top.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Those include a protected bay with deep channels, an entrance wide enough for ships, land for laying out the giant blades and steel towers, and access to heavy machinery to piece them together.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Armoring them with steel wires provides some protection against crushing, but can’t reliably stop snag damage if the anchor of a large ship hooks it and pulls, Stronge said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

It’s the difference between building a steel mill, and betting on whether or not a steel mill gets built.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

I expect it to fall out of the air when I grab it, but it’s like grabbing a steel beam suspended in the middle of the air—no slack to it at all.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

• brace
• fortify
• gird