steel: [OE] Steel is etymologically a ‘firm’ substance. The word goes back to a prehistoric West Germanic *stakhlam, which was derived from the Germanic base *stakh-, *stagh- ‘be firm’ (source also of English stay ‘rope, support’). It has Germanic relatives in German stahl and Dutch staal. => stay
steel (n.)
modified form of iron with a small portion of carbon, not found in nature but known in ancient times, Old English style "steel," from noun use of Proto-Germanic adjective *stakhlijan "made of steel" (cognates: Old Saxon stehli, Old Norse, Middle Low German stal, Danish staal, Swedish stål, Middle Dutch stael, Dutch staal, Old High German stahal, German Stahl), related to *stakhla "standing fast," from PIE *stek-lo-, from root *stak- "to stand, place, be firm" (see stay (n.1)). The notion is perhaps "that which stands firm." No corresponding word exists outside Germanic except those likely borrowed from Germanic languages.
As an adjective from c. 1200 (Old English used stylen "*steel-en." Steel wool is attested from 1896. Steel drum is from 1952.
steel (v.)
"make hard or strong like steel," 1580s, earliest use is figurative, from steel (n.). Old English lacked the verb but had styled "made of steel." Related: Steeled; steeling.
双语例句
1. The theatre is a futuristic steel and glass structure.
这家剧院是钢筋和玻璃结构的未来派建筑。
来自柯林斯例句
2. His life was saved by a quarter-inch-thick bullet-proof steel screen.
多亏一块1/4英寸厚的防弹钢板，他才捡了条命。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Steel cable will be used to replace worn ropes.
将用钢缆替换磨损的绳索。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The pavilion has become a £4 million steel and glass white elephant.
这个耗资400万英镑、用钢与玻璃所构筑起的亭子已经成了一个华而不实的摆设。
来自柯林斯例句
5. She fixes her steel-blue eyes on an unsuspecting local official.