Adjacent Words

Steel definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

STEEL, n. [G.]
1. Iron combined with a small portion of carbon; iron refined and hardened, used in making instruments, and particularly useful as the material of edged tools. It is called in chemistry, carburet of iron; but this is more usually the denomination of plumbago.
2. Figuratively, weapons; particularly, offensive weapons, swords, spears and the like.
Brave Macbeth with his brandishd steel.
-- While doubting thus he stood, receivd the steel bathd in this brothers blood.
3. Medicines composed of steel, as steel fillings.
After relaxing, steel strengthens the solids.
4. Extreme hardness; as heads or hearts of steel.
STEEL, a. Made of steel; as a steel plate or buckle.
STEEL, v.t.
1. To overlay, point or edge with steel; as, to steel the point of a sword; to steel a razor; to steel an ax.
2. To make hard or extremely hard.
O God of battles, steel my soldiers hearts.
Lies well steeld with weighty arguments.
3. To make hard; to make insensible or obdurate; as, to steel the heart against pity; to steel the mind or heart against reproof or admonition.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
2: a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard [syn: sword, blade, brand, steel]
3: knife sharpener consisting of a ridged steel rod v
1: get ready for something difficult or unpleasant [syn: steel, nerve]
2: cover, plate, or edge with steel

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English stele, from Old English sty?le, st?le; akin to Old High German stahal steel and perhaps to Sanskrit stakati he resists Date: before 12th century 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 II. transitive verb Date: 13th century 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> III. adjective Date: 13th century 1. made of steel 2. of or relating to the production of steel 3. resembling steel

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n., adj., & v. --n. 1 any of various alloys of iron and carbon with other elements increasing strength and malleability, much used for making tools, weapons, etc., and capable of being tempered to many different degrees of hardness. 2 hardness of character; strength, firmness (nerves of steel). 3 a a rod of steel, usu. roughened and tapering, on which knives are sharpened. b a strip of steel for expanding a skirt or stiffening a corset. 4 (not in pl.) literary a sword, lance, etc. (foemen worthy of their steel). --adj. 1 made of steel. 2 like or having the characteristics of steel. --v.tr. & refl. harden or make resolute (steeled myself for a shock). Phrases and idioms: cold steel cutting or thrusting weapons. pressed steel steel moulded under pressure. steel band a group of usu. W. Indian musicians with percussion instruments made from oil drums. steel-clad wearing armour. steel engraving the process of engraving on or an impression taken from a steel-coated copper plate. steel wool an abrasive substance consisting of a mass of fine steel shavings. Etymology: OE style, steli f. Gmc, rel. to STAY(2)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Merchant Mer"chant, a. Of, pertaining to, or employed in, trade or merchandise; as, the merchant service. Merchant bar, Merchant iron or steel, certain common sizes of wrought iron and steel bars. Merchant service, the mercantile marine of a country. --Am. Cyc. Merchant ship, a ship employed in commerce. Merchant tailor, a tailor who keeps and sells materials for the garments which he makes.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mild Mild, a. [Compar. Milder; superl. Mildest.] [AS. milde; akin to OS. mildi, D. & G. mild, OHG. milti, Icel. mildr, Sw. & Dan. mild, Goth. milds; cf. Lith. melas dear, Gr. ? gladdening gifts.] Gentle; pleasant; kind; soft; bland; clement; hence, moderate in degree or quality; -- the opposite of harsh, severe, irritating, violent, disagreeable, etc.; -- applied to persons and things; as, a mild disposition; a mild eye; a mild air; a mild medicine; a mild insanity. The rosy morn resigns her light And milder glory to the noon. --Waller. Adore him as a mild and merciful Being. --Rogers. Mild, or Low, steel, steel that has but little carbon in it and is not readily hardened. Syn: Soft; gentle; bland; calm; tranquil; soothing; pleasant; placid; meek; kind; tender; indulgent; clement; mollifying; lenitive; assuasive. See Gentle.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Steel Steel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steeled; p. pr. & vb. n. Steeling.] [AS. stlan: cf. Icel. st[ae]la. 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. --Shak. O God of battles! steel my soldier's hearts. --Shak. Why will you fight against so sweet a passion, And steel your heart to such a world of charms? --Addison. 3. Fig.: To cause to resemble steel, as in smoothness, polish, or other qualities. These waters, steeled By breezeless air to smoothest polish. --Wordsworth. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Steel Steel, n. [AS. st[=e]l, st[=y]l, st[=y]le; akin to D. staal, G. stahl, OHG. stahal, Icel. st[=a]l, Dan. staal, Sw. st[*a]l, 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. --Dryden. (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. Note: 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["o]l.), 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(steels, steeling, steeled) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. Steel is a very strong metal which is made mainly from iron. Steel is used for making many things, for example bridges, buildings, vehicles, and cutlery. ...steel pipes. ...the iron and steel industry... The front wall is made of corrugated steel. N-MASS: oft N n see also stainless steel 2. Steel is used to refer to the industry that produces steel and items made of steel. ...a three-month study of European steel... N-UNCOUNT: oft N n 3. If you steel yourself, you prepare to deal with something unpleasant. Those involved are steeling themselves for the coming battle... I was steeling myself to call round when Simon arrived. VERB: V pron-refl for/against n, V pron-refl to-inf

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The "bow of steel" in (A.V.) 2 Sam. 22:35; Job 20:24; Ps. 18:34 is in the Revised Version "bow of brass" (Heb. kesheth-nehushah). In Jer. 15:12 the same word is used, and is also rendered in the Revised Version "brass." But more correctly it is copper (q.v.), as brass in the ordinary sense of the word (an alloy of copper and zinc) was not known to the ancients.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

stel: the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "brass" for "steel" in 2Sa 22:35; Job 20:24; Ps 18:34; Jer 15:12, and "steel" for "torches" in Na 2:3.

See BRASS.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Carburet of iron, carbonized iron. 2. Armor, mail. 3. Knife, sword, dagger, dirk, poniard, claymore, sabre, falchion, rapier, hanger, blade. 4. Hardness, sternness, vigor, mercilessness. II. v. a. 1. Case-harden, edge or point with steel. 2. Harden, strengthen, fortify, nerve, brace, make firm.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

The house of correction.

Moby Thesaurus

Excalibur, Gibraltar, adamant, anneal, assessable stock, aureate, authorized capital stock, ax, bear up, beef up, bite the bullet, blade, blue chip, blue chip stock, bone, borrowed stock, brace, brace up, brass, brassy, brazen, brick, bronze, bronzy, brutalize, buck up, buttress, calcify, callous, capital stock, case harden, cement, cold steel, common stock, concrete, confirm, convertible preferred stock, copper, coppery, cornify, corporate stock, cumulative preferred stock, cupreous, cuprous, cutlery, cutter, cyclical stock, dagger, defensive stock, deferred stock, diamond, dirk, edge tools, eighth stock, equities, equity, equity security, fancies, ferrous, ferruginous, firm, flint, floating stock, fortify, fossilize, gilt, gird, glamour issue, gold, gold-filled, gold-plated, golden, granite, growth stock, guaranteed stock, harden, heart of oak, high-flier, horse, hot issue, hypothecated stock, inactive stock, income stock, indurate, insulate, inure, invigorate, iron, ironlike, issued capital stock, knife, lapidify, lead, leaden, letter stock, lion, lithify, loaned stock, long stock, marble, mercurial, mercurous, nails, naked steel, nerve, nickel, nickelic, nickeline, nonassessable stock, nonvoting stock, oak, ordinary shares, ossify, ox, pale blue chip, participating preferred stock, penny stock, petrify, pewter, pewtery, pigsticker, point, preference stock, preferred stock, prepare, prop, protect, protective stock, puncturer, quarter stock, quicksilver, rails, rally, ready, refresh, reinforce, reinvigorate, restrengthen, reverse split, rock, seasoned stock, share ledger, shares, sharpener, shore up, short stock, silver, silver-plated, silvery, special situation stock, specialty stock, speculative stock, split, standard stock, steels, steely, stiffen, stiletto, stock, stock ledger, stock list, stock split, stocks, stone, strengthen, support, sustain, sword, temper, ten-share unit stock, tin, tinny, toad sticker, toughen, treasury stock, trusty sword, undergird, unissued capital stock, unmeasurable, utilities, vitrify, voting stock, whittle