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.
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
This stainless steel dishwasher on wheels goes where you need it to go.
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Each jar was topped with a steel cone into which dogs could put their muzzles.
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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.
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We made big things like steel for ships and tractors and turbines for hydroelectric plants.
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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
The rest is going to wherever that steel is getting outsourced.
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It took a special, meticulous kind of person to accomplish the undertaking, someone with brains, patience, and nerves of steel.
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The dirigible is now connected with the head of the mooring mast by a long length of steel wire rope.
Flying the Atlantic in Sixteen Hours|Arthur Whitten Brown
As long ago as 1774, Rinman observed that steel alloyed with manganese is non-magnetic.
Inventors at Work|George Iles
The tank is of wrought iron or steel with strengthening pieces of angle iron.
The Bacillus of Long Life|Loudon Douglas
All this happen'd while a man could count twenty; and in half a minute I heard the ring of steel and was standing in the doorway.
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The stars were blue as steel in the moonless sky above the arc-lamps; and a cold parching wind had sprung up.
Sinister Street, vol. 2|Compton Mackenzie
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 exchangethe 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)
fortify, gird, brace, prepare, strengthen, embolden, encourage, hearten, harden, cheer, reinforce, inspirit, ready, rally, animate, buck up, grit teeth, make up one's mind
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.