steel

1 of 3

noun

ˈstēl 

1

: commercial iron that contains carbon in any amount up to about 1.7 percent as an essential alloying constituent, is malleable when under suitable conditions, and is distinguished from cast iron by its malleability and lower carbon content

2

: an instrument or implement of or characteristically of steel: such as

a

: a thrusting or cutting weapon

b

: an instrument (such as a fluted round rod with a handle) for sharpening knives

c

: a piece of steel for striking sparks from flint

3

: a quality (such as hardness of mind or spirit) that suggests steel

nerves of steel

4

a

: the steel manufacturing industry

b

steels plural : shares of stock in steel companies

steel

2 of 3

verb

steeled; steeling; steels

transitive verb

1

: to overlay, point, or edge with steel

2

a

: to cause to resemble steel (as in looks or hardness)

b

: to fill with resolution or determination

steeled herself to face the crisis

steel

3 of 3

adjective

1

: made of steel

2

: of or relating to the production of steel

3

: resembling steel

Synonyms

Noun

• blade
• brand
• sword

Verb

• bear up
• buck up
• buoy (up)
• cheer (up)
• chirk (up)
• embolden
• encourage
• hearten
• inspire
• inspirit

Examples of steel in a Sentence

Noun

The beams are made of steel.

Steel is an important industry in this area.

The invaders were driven back by steel.

the steel of a knife

Verb

hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams

years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The highway connects New York City to Connecticut and Rhode Island. I-95 opens ahead of schedule Crews began demolition work early Friday and removed tons of concrete, steel, and debris from the roadway, according to Lamont. —Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 5 May 2024

Construction broke ground with steel cutting in June 2021. —Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 5 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stele, from Old English stȳle, stēle; akin to Old High German stahal steel and perhaps to Sanskrit stakati he resists

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing steel

• carbon steel
• crucible steel
• Damascus steel
• lap steel
• lap steel guitar
• man of steel
• maraging steel
• mild steel
• nerves of steel
• of/like steel
• pedal steel
• pedal steel guitar
• stainless steel
• steel band
• steel blue
• steel drum
• steel engraving
• steel guitar
• steel oneself
• steel town
• steel-trap
• steel wool
• structural steel

Kids Definition

steel

1 of 3 noun

ˈstē(ə)l 

1

: commercial iron that contains carbon in any amount up to about 1.7 percent as a necessary part

2

: an article (as a sword) made of steel

3

: a hard cold quality

answered with steel in her voice

steel

2 of 3 verb

: to fill with courage or determination

steel

3 of 3 adjective

1

: made of or like steel

2

: of or relating to the production of steel