Steel (stēl), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Steeled (stēld); p. pr. & vb. n.Steeling.] [AS. stȳlan; cf. Icel. stæla. See Steel, n.] 1. To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel a razor; to steel an ax.
2. Fig.: To make hard or strong; hence, to make insensible or obdurate.
Lies well steeled with weighty arguments. Shak.
O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts. Shak.
Why will you fight against so sweet a passion,
And steel your heart to such a world of charms? Addison.
3. Fig.: To cause to resemble steel, as in smoothness, polish, or other qualities.
These waters, steeled
By breezeless air to smoothest polish. Wordsworth.
4. (Elec.) To cover, as an electrotype plate, with a thin layer of iron by electrolysis. The iron thus deposited is very hard, like steel.