steel
steel — noun
1. a hard, silver-coloured metal created by mixing iron with a small amount of carb
a hard, silver-coloured metal created by mixing iron with a small amount of carbon, used in buildings, vehicles, tools, and many other products.
The new bridge was built with over two thousand tons of steel.
passive: was built with [amount] of steel
Gita prefers cooking knives made of high-carbon steel because they stay sharp longer.
collocation: high-carbon steel
The steel beams that hold the stadium roof weigh over fifty tons each.
collocation: steel beams / support / weigh
Recycled steel is now commonly used in the car industry to reduce waste.
collocation: recycled steel
Élise watched as the workers welded steel plates together to form the ship's hull.
- steel beams
- steel plates
- steel frame
- steel structure
- high-carbon steel
- recycled steel
- tons of steel
Grammar Patterns
usually uncountable
Usage Note
Typically used as an uncountable noun. The countable form 'steels' appears only when referring to specific types or grades of the metal.
Common Mistakes
2. a long thick piece of the metal steel, placed inside a building, bridge, or mach
a long thick piece of the metal steel, placed inside a building, bridge, or machine to give it extra strength and stability.
The construction crew set steel bars into the concrete foundation before it dried.
collocation: steel bars / concrete foundation
Zayd used a thick steel bar to hold the heavy machinery in place.
Steel bars run through the columns of the parking garage to keep the building stable.
collocation: steel bars run through [structure]
The engineer checked each steel support beam before the bridge opened to traffic.
collocation: steel support beam
- steel bar
- steel beam
- steel support
- reinforcing steel
- rebar
Grammar Patterns
countable
Usage Note
Often called 'reinforcing steel' or 'rebar' in construction contexts. The plural 'steels' can be used to refer to multiple bars.
Common Mistakes
3. the business of making steel, including all the companies, factories, and worker
the business of making steel, including all the companies, factories, and workers involved in its production and sale.
The steel industry provides jobs for thousands of workers in the region.
collocation: provides jobs for [number] of workers
Aoi's father worked in the steel industry for thirty years before retiring.
Liang's factory in Kaohsiung cut production by half when steel prices dropped last quarter.
concrete: named factory / city / production cut
Many countries have reduced pollution from the steel industry in the past ten years.
collocation: reduce pollution from the steel industry
- global steel industry
- steel industry jobs
- steel industry workers
- steel production
- steel manufacturing
- steelmaking
focuses on the production process rather than the business as a whole
- metalworking sector
a broader category that includes industries working with other metals
Grammar Patterns
usually singular, preceded by 'the'
Usage Note
Always takes a singular verb. 'The steel industry is...' not 'are...'. May also appear in compound nouns like 'steel industry jobs' or 'steel industry workers'.
4. the quality of being mentally or emotionally very strong, like the metal steel,
the quality of being mentally or emotionally very strong, like the metal steel, especially when dealing with difficulty or danger.
The runner showed real steel by finishing the marathon despite her injured knee.
idiomatic: show (real) steel
Tomás showed real steel when he told his boss the project plan was unsafe.
idiomatic: show (real) steel + concrete confrontation
Samir faced the loss of his company with a calm steel that impressed his colleagues.
The surgical team needed nerves of steel to operate during the storm.
idiom: nerves of steel
- show steel
- nerves of steel
- take steel
- weakness
lack of mental or emotional strength
Grammar Patterns
uncountable, figurative use
Usage Note
Common in fixed phrases such as 'nerves of steel' and 'show steel'. Unlike the literal sense, this figurative use is always uncountable and cannot be made plural.
5. a fighting tool made of metal with a long sharp blade, such as a sword or simila
a fighting tool made of metal with a long sharp blade, such as a sword or similar hand-held weapon used in the past.
The museum display showed steel swords carried by soldiers in the 1800s.
Hoa examined the antique blade's fine steel under the lamp for signs of wear.
collocation: fine steel (of a blade)
The warrior drew his steel and prepared to defend the village from attackers.
literary: drew his steel (meaning his sword)
Collectors of antique steel weapons travel to auctions looking for rare pieces.
- draw one's steel
- fine steel
- steel weapon
- antique steel
Grammar Patterns
countable, often plural
Usage Note
This is a literary or historical sense. In modern everyday English, 'sword' or 'blade' is preferred. 'Steel' as a synonym for 'sword' is most common in historical writing, poetry, or stylised fiction.
Common Mistakes
of steel
idiomHaving a very strong, firm, or determined character or quality.
The climber needed nerves of steel to cross the narrow bridge.
Her voice was calm, but I detected a hint of steel in it.
steel — verb
1. to prepare your mind and emotions for something painful, frightening, or difficu
to prepare your mind and emotions for something painful, frightening, or difficult that you are about to face — for example, steeling yourself for bad news or steeling yourself to deliver a difficult speech.
Ayesha steeled herself to tell her parents that she had lost her job.
pattern: steel + oneself + to-infinitive
The team is steeling itself for a difficult negotiation with the company directors.
pattern: steel + oneself + for + noun phrase
Rin steeled herself against the cold wind before stepping out of the warm cabin.
pattern: steel + oneself + against + noun phrase
Eitan steeled himself for the bad news when he saw the doctor's serious expression.
You must steel yourself for the long process of rebuilding after the storm.
imperative form: you must steel yourself
- steel oneself
- steel for
- steel against
- weaken
to become less determined or less able to cope with difficulty
Grammar Patterns
steel + reflexive pronoun + for + noun
steel + reflexive pronoun + to + infinitive
steel + reflexive pronoun + against + noun
Usage Note
Almost always used reflexively with a pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves). The non-reflexive form ('she steeled her heart') is rare and literary.
Common Mistakes
steel — adjective
1. made from the hard, silver-coloured metal that contains iron and carbon and is u
made from the hard, silver-coloured metal that contains iron and carbon and is used widely in construction and tools.
The kitchen has steel cabinets that are easy to clean and do not rust.
Beatrix bought a steel water bottle that keeps drinks cold for hours.
collocation: steel + [product noun]
The old wooden bridge was replaced with a steel structure that can carry more traffic.
contrast: wooden → steel
Steel doors are common in apartment buildings because they are stronger than wooden ones.
- steel cabinet
- steel door
- steel frame
- steel structure
- steel beam
- steel pipe
- metallic
broader — describes anything that looks or feels like metal, not necessarily steel specifically
Grammar Patterns
attributive (before a noun)
Usage Note
Used only before a noun (attributive position). In predicative position, 'made of steel' is preferred: 'The door is made of steel', not 'The door is steel' (though the latter is sometimes used informally).
Common Mistakes
2. connected with the business of making, selling, or using the metal steel.
connected with the business of making, selling, or using the metal steel.
The city lost many steel jobs when the manufacturing sector began to shrink.
collocation: steel jobs
Kwame studied steel engineering at the technical university for four years.
collocation: steel engineering
Gabriel, the purchasing manager, warned his team that steel tariffs would raise their costs by fifteen percent.
collocation: steel tariffs / steel costs + named role
The conference brings together leaders from the steel industry every two years.
collocation: steel industry
- steel industry
- steel production
- steel trade
- steel prices
- steel exports
- steel engineering
- steel jobs
- metallurgical
more technical, covering the science of all metals rather than steel specifically
Grammar Patterns
attributive (before a noun)
Usage Note
This sense is most commonly found in compound nouns formed with 'steel' + a noun about business or production ('steel production', 'steel trade', 'steel exports'). It does not describe the physical properties of the metal itself.
3. like steel in colour, strength, hardness, or appearance — for example, a steel-g
like steel in colour, strength, hardness, or appearance — for example, a steel-grey sky or a muscle that feels as hard as steel.
The sky turned a steel grey just before the storm hit the coastline.
compound adjective: steel grey
Yan's steel-blue eyes focused on the target across the field with calm intensity.
compound adjective: steel-blue
The athlete's arms had a steel hardness from years of weight training.
metaphorical: steel hardness
The building's steel-grey walls gave the structure a cold and serious look.
- steel grey
- steel blue
- steel hardness
- steel-like
- soft
lacking the hardness or firmness of steel
Grammar Patterns
attributive (before a noun), often in compound adjectives
Usage Note
Commonly appears in hyphenated compound adjectives describing colour: 'steel-grey', 'steel-blue', 'steel-silver'. For hardness comparisons, 'steel-like' or 'as hard as steel' are alternatives.
Word family
- steelyadjectiveC1
- steelworkernounB2
- steelmakingnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Steel is a specific type of metal — an alloy of iron and carbon — that is valued for its hardness and strength. Metal is the broadest term, covering all solid elements that are typically hard, shiny, and conduct heat or electricity, from gold and copper to aluminium and titanium. Iron is the raw material from which steel is made; pure iron is softer and rusts more readily than steel. Alloy refers to any mixture of a metal with one or more other elements — steel is one example, but bronze (copper and tin) and brass (copper and zinc) are others. In everyday language: 'I work with metal' (any kind), 'the gate is made of iron' (older, heavier, rusts easily), 'the knife blade is high-carbon steel' (modern, strong, holds an edge), 'this ring is a gold alloy' (mixed with other metals for durability).
Common collocations
Phrases
- made of steel
Prepositions
- of steel
- in steel
Etymology
The word 'steel' comes from Old English 'stīele' or 'stēle', which itself traces back to Proto-Germanic '*stahliją'. At its root is the Proto-Indo-European '*stak-', meaning 'to stand' or 'be firm' — the same root that gave us the word 'stay'. This origin makes sense, since steel's defining quality is its firmness and strength. Over time, speakers of English also used the word metaphorically for any quality of firmness, courage, or hardness, giving rise to senses like 'nerves of steel' and the verb 'to steel oneself'.