steel

¹steel

noun \ˈstēl\

Definition of STEEL

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: as a : a thrusting or cutting weapon b : an instrument (as a fluted round rod with a handle) for sharpening knives c : a piece of steel for striking sparks from flint

3

: a quality (as hardness of mind or spirit) that suggests steel <nerves of steel>

4

a : the steel manufacturing industry b plural : shares of stock in steel companies

Examples of STEEL

1. The beams are made of steel.
2. Steel is an important industry in this area.
3. The invaders were driven back by steel.
4. the steel of a knife

Origin of STEEL

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: before 12th century

Related to STEEL

Synonyms: blade, brand, sword

Related Words: broadsword, cutlass, rapier, saber (or sabre), scimitar, smallsword

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Other Metals and Metallurgy Terms

assay, bloom, bullion, ductile, ingot, malleable, patina, plate, temper, tensile

Rhymes with STEEL

ceil, chiel, creel, deal, deil, eel, feel, heal, heel, keel, Kiel, kneel, leal, meal, peal, peel, real, reel, seal, seel, shiel, speel, spiel, squeal, steal, Steele, streel, teal, tuille, veal, weal, wheal, wheel, zeal