steel

[ steel ]

/ stil /

Save This Word!

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.

QUIZ

GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!

Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use steel in a sentence

It requires 32,000 gallons of water to produce the steel for an average passenger car.
Trying to shop sustainably? Here’s what you need to consider.|Sarah Kaplan|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
If your sword hits a wooden shield, your controller will vibrate softer than against brassy, grinding steel shields and walls.
‘Demon’s Souls’ review: The ideal PlayStation 5 launch game|Gene Park|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The chairs, which also come in light green or gray, are made of powder-coated steel and can be paired with a cushion for added comfort.
Shopping with the pros: The Madcap Cottage team chooses favorites from Terrain|Mari-Jane Williams|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Even after dozens of hours testing the durability of water bottles over the years, I am still amazed at the strength of stainless-steel containers.
How to Choose the Right Water Bottle for You|Joe Jackson|November 17, 2020|Outside Online

Spear shafts are generally made of spring steel to help prevent bending, and they come in a variety of thicknesses.
Take a stab at spearfishing with these tips|Same Romano/Outdoor Life|November 16, 2020|Popular-Science
“The Muslim Brotherhood is steeling for a fight,” says Trager, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Egypt Braces For a Fight|Mike Giglio|June 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I moved back to the city and my two on-again off-again guys, steeling myself for hopeless fix-ups, just in case love might strike.
The Summer of the Entenmann's Man|Gael Greene|July 9, 2010|DAILY BEAST
So perhaps the population was silently steeling itself for another Great Disappointment.
The Capital Goes Nuts|Simon Schama|November 6, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Steeling his nerves, which quivered a moment in spite of his will, he opened the window and stepped out on to the balcony.
The Empty House And Other Ghost Stories|Algernon Blackwood
He was sick of the bareness and privation of all things connected with his venture, but was steeling himself to hold out.
Sister Carrie|Theodore Dreiser
I turned to her, steeling myself to look into her appealing eyes.
Gordon Craig|Randall Parrish
He followed behind, steeling his soul to meet those victims of the complicated plot.
The Skipper and the Skipped|Holman Day
Fortunately for them it is impossible to develop the body without at the same time steeling the will.
Oscar Wilde, Volume 1 (of 2)|Frank Harris

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.

Other 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

steel

Origin of steel

OTHER WORDS FROM steel

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH steel

Words related to steel

How to use steel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for steel (1 of 2)

Derived forms of steel

Word Origin for steel

British Dictionary definitions for steel (2 of 2)

Scientific definitions for steel

Other Idioms and Phrases with steel