The Collaborative International Dictionary
Steel \Steel\ (st[=e]l), 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.]
(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.
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An instrument or implement made of steel; as:
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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. An instrument of steel (usually a round rod) for sharpening knives.
A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint.
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Fig.: Anything of extreme hardness; that which is characterized by sternness or rigor. ``Heads of steel.''
--Johnson. ``Manhood's heart of steel.''
--Byron.-
(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 Cast steel (Metal.), a fine variety of steel, originally made by smelting blister or cementation steel; hence, ordinarily, steel of any process of production when remelted and cast. Chrome steel, Chromium steel (Metal.), a hard, tenacious variety containing a little chromium, 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.
(Firearms) See Wheel lock, under Wheel.
A mill which has steel grinding surfaces.
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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.
Cast steel \Cast" steel`\ See Cast steel, under Steel.
Usage examples of "cast steel".
Fire elongated solid shot with lead skirts like the siege guns back home we use cast steel from the Kolobassian forges, of course, but I could strengthen the breeches of these cast-iron pieces with bands.
By 1884, wrought iron rails were no longer made at all, and 1,500,000 tons of cast steel rail were made at a cost of $32 a ton.
The most critical points in Josh's lecture concerned the importance of good cast iron with a high silicon content for steam engine cylinders and the need to make their own cast steel, since that process in Europe hadn't been introduced until the mid-eighteenth century.