steel
/stiːl/ (bre, ipa) · /stiːl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstēl/ (ame, mw)
steel — noun
- steelsingular
- steelsplural
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.
Recycled steel is now commonly used in the car industry to reduce waste.
Élise watched as the workers welded steel plates together to form the ship's hull.
文法句型
usually uncountable
用法筆記
Typically used as an uncountable noun. The countable form 'steels' appears only when referring to specific types or grades of the metal.
常見錯誤
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.
The engineer checked each steel support beam before the bridge opened to traffic.
文法句型
countable
用法筆記
Often called 'reinforcing steel' or 'rebar' in construction contexts. The plural 'steels' can be used to refer to multiple bars.
常見錯誤
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.
Many countries have reduced pollution from the steel industry in the past ten years.
- 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
文法句型
usually singular, preceded by 'the'
用法筆記
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.
- weakness
lack of mental or emotional strength
文法句型
uncountable, figurative use
用法筆記
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.
Collectors of antique steel weapons travel to auctions looking for rare pieces.
文法句型
countable, often plural
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
steel — verb
- steelpresent simple I / you / we / they
- steels3rd person singular
- steeling-ing form
- steeledpast simple
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.
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.
- weaken
to become less determined or less able to cope with difficulty
文法句型
steel + reflexive pronoun + for + noun
steel + reflexive pronoun + to + infinitive
steel + reflexive pronoun + against + noun
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
steel — adjective
- steelpositive
- steelercomparative
- steelestsuperlative
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.
Steel doors are common in apartment buildings because they are stronger than wooden ones.
- metallic
broader — describes anything that looks or feels like metal, not necessarily steel specifically
文法句型
attributive (before a noun)
用法筆記
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).
常見錯誤
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.
The conference brings together leaders from the steel industry every two years.
- metallurgical
more technical, covering the science of all metals rather than steel specifically
文法句型
attributive (before a noun)
用法筆記
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.
The building's steel-grey walls gave the structure a cold and serious look.
- soft
lacking the hardness or firmness of steel
文法句型
attributive (before a noun), often in compound adjectives
用法筆記
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.