steel

Pronunciation: /stiːl/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
  2. noun a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
  3. noun knife sharpener consisting of a ridged steel rod

Etymology

From Middle English stele, stel, from Old English stīele, from Proto-West Germanic *stahlī (“something made of steel”), enlargement of *stahl (“steel”), from Proto-Germanic *stahlą, from *stah- or *stag- (“to be firm, rigid”), from Proto-Indo-European *stak- (“to stay, to be firm”). Compare Scots stele, Yola stehli, German Stahl, Dutch staal.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
alloy
Narrower (hyponyms)
hard steel, quenched steel, damascus steel, crucible steel, mild steel, chisel steel

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