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
Instead of steel walls, the interior is open and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows to bring passengers closer to the water and make the central thoroughfare feel less like a shopping mall. Ceylan Yeğinsu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024 First and foremost were its looks, but then came the claims that this truck would be a bulletproof off-roading legend designed for the end times — claims that were quickly debunked when lead designer Franz Von Holzhausen hurled a steel ball at the window and shattered it. Elizabeth Blackstock / Jalopnik, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 Their father worked as a foreman in a steel plant while their mother was a stay-at-home-mom, according to The New York Times. Francesca Gariano, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 From steel and cars to consumer electronics and solar panels, Chinese factories are finding more overseas buyers for goods. Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Material Sprinklers can come in many different materials, but the most common are steel and plastic, which is typically less expensive. Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2024 Los Angeles Police Department officers had bolstered patrols in the area in anticipation of protests, and ticket-holders for the ceremony and after-party events were required to pass through three checkpoints and a number of steel barriers before approaching the red carpet. Ashley Ahn, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Roe also sees the current appeal of steel and silver as a natural response to the muted and matte interiors that came before it. Talia Abbas, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024 Completed in 2022, the residence is tucked behind custom steel gates. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
Nuclear Acceleration: Xi Jinping, China’s leader, built up a nuclear arsenal, steeling for a growing rivalry with the United States. Mike Isaac, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Now, with Trump pulling slightly ahead of President Joe Biden in some national polls, U.S. allies are steeling themselves for a possible MAGA restoration with equal measures of dread and pragmatism. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 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
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 28 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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