Definition of 'steel'

Word Frequency

steel

(stil )

Word forms: steels, steeling, steeled

1. mass noun

Steel is a very strong metal which is made mainly from iron. Steel is used for making many things, for example bridges, buildings, vehicles, and flatware.

...steel pipes.

...the iron and steel industry.

2. See also stainless steel

3. transitive verb

If you steel yourself, you prepare to deal with something unpleasant.

Those involved are steeling themselves for the coming battle.

Video: pronunciation of
steel

steel in American English

(stil )

noun

a hard, tough metal composed of iron alloyed with various small percentages of carbon and often variously with other metals, as nickel, chromium, manganese, etc., to produce hardness, resistance to rusting, etc.

something made of steel

; specif.,

a. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic

a sword or dagger

a piece of steel used with flint for making sparks

a steel strip used for stiffening

a roughened steel rod on which to sharpen knives

great strength, hardness, or toughness

4. [often pl.]

shares of stock in steel-making companies

5. Informal

steel guitar

adjective

of or like steel

verb transitive

to cover or edge with steel

to make hard, tough, unfeeling, etc.

Word origin

ME stel < OE stiele, stæli, akin to Ger stahl < IE *stak-, to stand: see stay3

Word Frequency

steel in British English

(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

Steel in British English

(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)

Word Frequency

steel in Automotive Engineering

(stil)

noun

(Automotive engineering: Materials)

Steel is a very strong metal which is made mainly from iron. Steel is used for making vehicles.

Sheet steel is pressed into the shapes of the various panels of the car and welded together.

The vehicle is very well-built with thick steel panels and neat join lines between floorpan and body.

Mechanics stripped the engine bay, sills, and wheel arches right back to bare metal just to make sure that the steel underneath was in good condition.

Word Frequency

steel in Mechanical Engineering

(stil)

noun

(Mechanical engineering: Materials)

Steel is any iron-based alloy containing less than 1.5 percent carbon.

Steel, an alloy consisting mostly of iron and a small amount of carbon, is one of the most common materials in the world.

Any steel containing thirteen or more percent chromium is classified as stainless.

Steel is any iron-based alloy containing less than 1.5 percent carbon.

carbon steel, stainless steel

Examples of 'steel' in a sentence
steel

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

He stepped over to it and grasped the steel handle.These meals are prepared in stainless steel or glass containers.The hut has a steel frame and shutters that open outwards and upwards to provide shade.This pleasing effect softens the hard steel lines and shields the precipitous drop to the road below.The deals made him a leading force in the iron and steel industry.Off we went through shabby lanes of light industrial shops in cold concrete with steel shutters.She nods at the stainless steel bin by the coffee counter.The opportunity for our generation to have something more than a steel mill job means something.There are so many towns where we used to make cars or steel.The drive and lawns are framed with steel edging.

Word lists with
steel

alloy, alloys, metal

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

Which metal alloy am I?

any alloy of platinum and iridium: used in jewellery, electrical contacts, and hypodermic needles

osmiridium platiniridium white gold

Which metal alloy am I?

any of a number of alloys originally based on tin, antimony, and copper but now often including lead: used esp in bearings.

Babbit metal brass Britannia metal

Which metal alloy am I?

brass Monel steel

Which metal alloy am I?

an alloy of low melting point consisting of tin with 5–10 per cent antimony, 1–3 per cent copper, and sometimes small quantities of zinc, lead, or bismuth: used for decorative purposes and for bearings

brass Britannia metal magnolia metal

Which metal alloy am I?

an alloy of gold (55–88 per cent) and silver used for jewellery and ornaments

brass electrum Invar™

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