steel

1 of 3

noun

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

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 steel provider and service center distributes more than 2 million tons of coil, sheet, and plate with smooth and rough surfaces annually. Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2024 Its steel and wicker construction can withstand all weather conditions, and the plush seat cushions are made with a fade-resistant fabric. Bridget Degnan, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024 Use the spring steel clip inside the top door to send outgoing mail. Samantha S. Thorpe, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 Breakfast options include a sausage and egg sandwich, smoked salmon bagel, a Greek yogurt parfait and Giada's oatmeal made with steel cut oats, orange segments, toasted Marcona almonds, extra-virgin olive oil and Maldon sea salt. Keith Lee reviewed a gluten-free brunch spot in Phoenix: 'Crying. Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 The heat radiated when the molten steel was in sight. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 These furnaces use electricity to melt scrap steel and other metals as opposed to blast furnaces, which use coke or fossil fuels. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Feb. 2024 Flaco had escaped his enclosure just over a year ago, after someone cut through the steel mesh of his exhibit. Helier Cheung, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024 It’s made of durable steel to support up to 700 pounds — without a box spring. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2024
Verb
My six-month-old son saps all my energy but also steels my resolve to protect it. Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2024 Do your best to steel yourself and take in difficult feedback without coming unglued. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024 Readying for the long haul The need for more troops comes as Ukraine steels itself for a long war. Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023 But another contingent is steeling itself for a fight, arguing that regulators have overstepped their authority and hobbled critical health care infrastructure by targeting trackers. $30 for your first 3 months. Katie Palmer, STAT, 19 Dec. 2023 But her earlier life steeled her for the hardships that were to come. Chris Buckley, New York Times, 10 Dec. 2023 In April, the actress penned a letter to herself as a little girl for PEOPLE's 2023 Beautiful Issue, sharing how her farm upbringing would steel her for the ups and downs of fame. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023 The canyon reminds me of being raised in Australia; brush fires abundant, the smell of ash would often steel the air into a strange metallic taste and smell. Fariha Róisín, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023 In his garage in Rickmansworth, a British town north of London, Malcolm steeled himself for a grueling engineering challenge. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2023
Adjective
Around the country, mining operations have cropped up in an ex-steel mill in Calvert City, Kentucky; an ex-Gateway Computer industrial campus in South Dakota; a power plant in Hardin, Montana; a former airplane hangar in Big Spring, Texas; and old fruit warehouses in Eastern Washington State. Sophie Haigney, Curbed, 13 July 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of steel was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near steel

Cite this Entry

“Steel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steel. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

steel

1 of 3 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on steel

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