steel

[steel]

Steel is a kind of metal alloy that's made of iron and carbon. It's known for being incredibly strong and is often used to build the framework of skyscrapers. It's also helpful to have "nerves of steel."

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A variety of iron intermediate in composition and properties between wrought iron and cast iron (containing between one half of one per cent and one and a half per cent of carbon), and consisting of an alloy of iron with an iron carbide. Steel, unlike wrought iron, can be tempered, and retains magnetism. Its malleability decreases, and fusibility increases, with an increase in carbon.

Noun
knife sharpener consisting of a ridged steel rod

Noun
a cutting or thrusting weapon with a long blade

Noun
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

Verb
cover, plate, or edge with steel

Verb
get ready for something difficult or unpleasant

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n.
A variety of iron intermediate in composition and properties between wrought iron and cast iron (containing between one half of one per cent and one and a half per cent of carbon), and consisting of an alloy of iron with an iron carbide. Steel, unlike wrought iron, can be tempered, and retains magnetism. Its malleability decreases, and fusibility increases, with an increase in carbon.

n.
An instrument or implement made of steel

n.
A weapon, as a sword, dagger, etc.

n.
An instrument of steel (usually a round rod) for sharpening knives.

n.
A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint.

n.
Fig.: Anything of extreme hardness; that which is characterized by sternness or rigor.

n.
A chalybeate medicine.

n.
To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel a razor; to steel an ax.

n.
To make hard or strong; hence, to make insensible or obdurate.

n.
Fig.: To cause to resemble steel, as in smoothness, polish, or other qualities.

n.
To cover, as an electrotype plate, with a thin layer of iron by electrolysis. The iron thus deposited is very hard, like steel.


Steel

Steel , n. [AS. st'c7l, st'dfl, st'dfle; akin to D. staal, G. stahl, OHG. stahal, Icel. st'bel, Dan. staal, Sw. st'86l, Old Prussian stakla.] 1. (Metal) A variety of iron intermediate in composition and properties between wrought iron and cast iron (containing between one half of one per cent and one and a half per cent of carbon), and consisting of an alloy of iron with an iron carbide. Steel, unlike wrought iron, can be tempered, and retains magnetism. Its malleability decreases, and fusibility increases, with an increase in carbon. 2. An instrument or implement made of steel; as: -- (a) A weapon, as a sword, dagger, etc. "Brave Macbeth . . . with his brandished steel." Shak.
While doubting thus he stood, Received the steel bathed in his brother's blood.
(b) An instrument of steel (usually a round rod) for sharpening knives. (c) A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint. 3. Fig.: Anything of extreme hardness; that which is characterized by sternness or rigor. "Heads of steel." Johnson. "Manhood's heart of steel." Byron. 4. (Med.) A chalybeate medicine. Dunglison. &hand; Steel is often used in the formation of compounds, generally of obvious meaning; as, steel-clad, steel-girt, steel-hearted, steel-plated, steel-pointed, etc. Bessemer steel (Metal.) See in the Vocabulary. -- Blister steel. (Metal.) See under Blister. -- Cast steel (Metal.), a fine variety of steel, originally made by smelting blister or cementation steel; hence, ordinarily, steel of any process of production when remelted and cast. -- Cromium steel (Metal.), a hard, tenacious variety containing a little cromium, and somewhat resembling tungsten steel. -- Mild steel (Metal.), a kind of steel having a lower proportion of carbon than ordinary steel, rendering it softer and more malleable. -- Puddled steel (Metal.), a variety of steel produced from cast iron by the puddling process. -- Steel duck (Zo'94l.), the goosander, or merganser. [Prov. Eng.] -- Steel mill. (a) (Firearms) See Wheel lock, under Wheel. (b) A mill which has steel grinding surfaces. (c) A mill where steel is manufactured. -- Steel trap, a trap for catching wild animals. It consists of two iron jaws, which close by means of a powerful steel spring when the animal disturbs the catch, or tongue, by which they are kept open. -- Steel wine, wine, usually sherry, in which steel filings have been placed for a considerable time, -- used as a medicine. -- Tincture of steel (Med.), an alcoholic solution of the chloride of iron. -- Tungsten steel (Metal.), a variety of steel containing a small amount of tungsten, and noted for its tenacity and hardness, as well as for its malleability and tempering qualities. It is also noted for its magnetic properties.

Steel

Steel , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steeled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Steeling.] [AS. stlan: cf. Icel. st'91la. See Steel, n.] 1. To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel a razor; to steel an ax. 2. To make hard or strong; hence, to make insensible or obdurate.
Lies well steeled with weighty arguments.
O God of battles! steel my soldier's hearts.
Why will you fight against so sweet a passion, And steel your heart to such a world of charms?
3. Fig.: To cause to resemble steel, as in smoothness, polish, or other qualities.
These waters, steeled By breezeless air to smoothest polish.
4. (Elec.) To cover, as an electrotype plate, with a thin layer of iron by electrolysis. The iron thus deposited is very hard, like steel.

A variety of iron intermediate in composition and properties between wrought iron and cast iron (containing between one half of one per cent and one and a half per cent of carbon), and consisting of an alloy of iron with an iron carbide. Steel, unlike wrought iron, can be tempered, and retains magnetism. Its malleability decreases, and fusibility increases, with an increase in carbon.

To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel a razor; to steel an ax.

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Usage Examples

At the bottom of not a little of the bravery that appears in the world, there lurks a miserable cowardice. Men will face powder and steel because they have not the courage to face public opinion.

But steel bars have never yet kept out a mob it takes something a good deal stronger: human courage backed up by the consciousness of being right.

General Motors spends more on health care than steel.

I can't grill vegetables, shellfish or steaks without tongs. Don't bother with those long-handled grilling tongs normally found in the BBQ section of your home store. Get intimate with your grill and opt for the regular stainless steel tongs.

Men admire the man who can organize their wishes and thoughts in stone and wood and steel and brass.

Misspelled Form

steel, asteel, wsteel, esteel, dsteel, xsteel, zsteel, ateel, wteel, eteel, dteel, xteel, zteel, sateel, swteel, seteel, sdteel, sxteel, szteel, srteel, s5teel, s6teel, syteel, sgteel, sreel, s5eel, s6eel, syeel, sgeel, streel, st5eel, st6eel, styeel, stgeel, stweel, st3eel, st4eel, streel, stseel, stdeel, stwel, st3el, st4el, strel, stsel, stdel, stewel, ste3el, ste4el, sterel, stesel, stedel, stewel, ste3el, ste4el, sterel, stesel, stedel, stewl, ste3l, ste4l, sterl, stesl, stedl, steewl, stee3l, stee4l, steerl, steesl, steedl, steekl, steeol, steepl, stee:l, steek, steeo, steep, stee:, steelk, steelo, steelp, steel:.

Other Usage Examples

I kept a steel wall around my moral and sexual instincts - protecting them, I thought, from the threats of the real world. This gave me a tremendous advantage in politics, if not in my soul. The true me, my spiritual core, slipped further and further from reach.

Any act often repeated soon forms a habit and habit allowed, steady gains in strength, At first it may be but as a spider's web, easily broken through, but if not resisted it soon binds us with chains of steel.

The men in the steel industry who sacrificed their all were nor merely aiding their fellows at home but were adding strength to the cause of their comrades in all industry.

My mother was an English teacher who decided to become a math teacher, and she used me as a guinea pig at home. My father had been a math teacher and then went to work at a steel mill because, frankly, he could make more money doing that.

The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.

At a time when nobody thought we'd ever see a new steel mill built in America, we took a chance and built one in a corn field in Indiana. Today Steel Dynamics is one of the largest steel producers in the United States.

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