Definition of steel
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
4a
: the steel manufacturing industry
b
steels plural
: shares of stock in steel companies
steel
verb
steeled; steeling; steels
Definition of steel (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: to overlay, point, or edge with steel
2a
: to cause to resemble steel (as in looks or hardness)
b
: to fill with resolution or determination
steeled herself to face the crisis
steel
adjectiveDefinition of steel (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: made of steel
2
: of or relating to the production of steel
3
: resembling steel
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Share steel
Time Traveler for steel
The first known use of steel was before the 12th century
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