ENGLISH
REFERENCE

steel

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈstiɫ// UK //stˈiːl// steel Archaic Dialect General-service Literary Slang

n. a very strong, hard metal made from iron and carbon. It is used to build big things like bridges, cars, and tall buildings.

n. a hard, strong alloy consisting primarily of iron with a small percentage of carbon. Widely used in structural engineering and manufacturing due to its high tensile strength and low cost.


SIMPLE

The workers used heavy steel beams to build the new office tower.

CONTEXTUAL

Modern skyscrapers rely on a skeleton of reinforced steel to remain stable during high winds and earthquakes.

COMPLEX

The industrial revolution was propelled by advancements in the mass production of steel, which allowed for the expansion of railway networks across the continent.

Synonyms
Usage

Uncountable when referring to the material in general; countable when referring to specific types or grades of the alloy.

Idioms2 entries

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