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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
But independent analysts estimate Trump’s first-term tariffs on thousands of products, including steel and aluminum, solar panels, and washing machines, may have cost the country $316 billion and, by one account, more than 300,000 jobs. Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024 The hard-to-abate economic sectors, such as shipping and steel, will consume green hydrogen produced using electrolysis, adds DNV GL. Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
In meetings, on calls and in public moves, CEOs are steeling themselves and their companies for the possibility of four more years of former President Trump. Erica Pandey, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024 After going 0-7 in games decided by three points or fewer last season, the Chargers still are trying to steel themselves to make a jump toward winning tight games. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
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 See all Example Sentences for steel 

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 23 Nov. 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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