steel

[ steel ]

/ stil /

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.

Words nearby steel

stech, stechhelm, stedfast, steed, steek, steel, steel band, steel blue, steel drum, steel engraving, steel gray

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

steel·like, 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for steeling

“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
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
But, steeling his heart, and uttering a short prayer, he leaped into the saddle.
The Motor Boys|Clarence Young

Steeling himself anew he pushed stubbornly on to the next flight.
The Boy Scouts at the Panama Canal|John Henry Goldfrap
And this gave Jerome another opportunity of steeling Clement.
The Cloister and the Hearth|Charles Reade
Steeling himself, he replied, "Their terms are the freedom of the people."
The Fantasy Fan December 1933|Charles D. Hornig

British Dictionary definitions for steeling (1 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)

British Dictionary definitions for steeling (2 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

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 steeling

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 steeling

steel

In addition to the idiom beginning with steel

steel one's heart against

also see:

mind like a steel trap

steel

noun

adjective

verb (used with object)

Content related to steel

Words related to steel

Words nearby steel

Origin of steel

OTHER WORDS FROM steel

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH steel

Examples from the Web for steeling

British Dictionary definitions for steeling (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for steeling (2 of 2)

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of steel

Word Origin for steel

Scientific definitions for steeling

Idioms and Phrases with steeling