an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
"The architect chose steel for the skyscraper's frame because its adjustable strength allowed them to build taller than ever before."
knife sharpener consisting of a ridged steel rod
"He wiped off his pocketknife before sliding it along the rough ridge of the steel on his belt loop to keep the blade honed."
An artificial metal produced from iron, harder and more elastic than elemental iron; used figuratively as a symbol of hardness.
"The new skyscraper's steel frame proved to be the backbone that held the city together during the storm."
In plain English: Steel is a very strong metal made by mixing iron with carbon, used to build cars and skyscrapers.
"The steel bridge spans the wide river."
cover, plate, or edge with steel
"The shipyard workers reinforced the hull of the cargo vessel by plating it with thick sheets of steel to withstand harsh ocean storms."
To edge, cover, or point with steel.
"The old swordsmith sharpened the blade and then hardened it by dipping the tip in molten steel to make a lasting weapon."
In plain English: To steel yourself means to mentally prepare yourself to face something difficult without showing fear.
"The steel beams were reinforced to support the new heavy machinery."
Usage: Use this verb to describe sharpening an object's blade by rubbing it against steel wool or another abrasive surface. It is often confused with the noun form when describing weapons made of metal rather than tools used for maintenance.
Made of steel.
"The new bridge is made of steel, making it incredibly strong and durable against storms."
In plain English: Steel describes something that is very strong and difficult to break or bend.
"The steel door was very hard to open."
Coldbath Fields Prison in London, closed in 1877.
"My neighbor's father, who is a retired carpenter named Steel, always wears his work boots to Sunday church."
A surname.
The word steel comes from Old English and originally referred to the metal itself through a root meaning "to be firm or rigid." It traveled into modern usage as the name for this strong, durable material derived from ancient concepts of steadfastness.