Metal vs. Steel — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 5, 2023
Metal is a category of elements with high conductivity, while steel is an alloy mainly of iron and carbon.
Difference Between Metal and Steel
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Metal refers to a category of elements or compounds generally characterized by properties like malleability, conductivity, and luster. Metals can be found in the periodic table and exhibit specific properties such as being good conductors of electricity and heat.
Steel, on the other hand, is a metal alloy that primarily consists of iron along with certain amounts of carbon. It may also contain other elements to confer specific properties. Steel is renowned for its strength and is used in various applications like construction and manufacturing.
While metal serves as a broad term encompassing a variety of elements and compounds, steel is specifically an alloy derived from a particular metal, which is iron. Both are utilized in various industries, though metal provides a wider array of options due to its diverse types.
Metals, being diverse and versatile, find applications across a multitude of industries including electronics, due to their conductivity, and construction, due to their strength and durability, offering options like aluminum, copper, iron, and more.
Steel finds immense popularity in industries due to its impressive strength-to-weight ratio, anti-corrosive properties (specifically stainless steel), and its recyclability, making it a favored material in construction, automobile manufacturing, and even in kitchen utensils.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A category of conductive elements/compounds.
An alloy primarily composed of iron and carbon.
Compositional Basis
Can be elemental or compounded.
Is an alloy, thus a mixture of elements.
Variety
Includes various elements like iron, copper, aluminum.
Primarily pertains to iron-carbon alloy variations.
Usage
Broadly used in various forms across industries.
Common in construction, automobiles due to its strength.
Examples
Gold, Aluminum, Copper, etc.
Stainless steel, Carbon steel, etc.
Compare with Definitions
Metal
Elemental Metal
Gold is a precious metal known for its luster and value.
Steel
Mentally prepare (oneself) to do or face something difficult
His team were steeling themselves for disappointment
She steeled herself to remain calm
Metal
Conductive Metal
Copper metal is widely used in electrical wiring.
Steel
Resistant Steel
Corrosion-resistant steel is used for manufacturing ships.
Metal
Structured Metal
Metallic structures are employed in buildings for durability.
Steel
Steel is an alloy made up of iron with typically a few tenths of a percent of carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to iron. Many other elements may be present or added.
Metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον métallon, "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typically malleable (they can be hammered into thin sheets) or ductile (can be drawn into wires).
Steel
A hard, strong grey or bluish-grey alloy of iron with carbon and usually other elements, used as a structural and fabricating material
Steel girders
Metal
A solid material which is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity (e.g. iron, gold, silver, and aluminium, and alloys such as steel)
Being a metal, aluminium readily conducts heat
An adjustable pole made of metal
Steel
A generally hard, strong, durable, malleable alloy of iron and carbon, usually containing between 0.2 and 1.5 percent carbon, often with other constituents such as manganese, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, copper, tungsten, cobalt, or silicon, depending on the desired alloy properties, and widely used as a structural material.
Metal
Broken stone for use in making roads
The work also involves dealing with rock aggregates for potential use as suitable road metal
Steel
Something, such as a sword, that is made of steel.
Metal
Molten glass before it is blown or cast.
Steel
A quality suggestive of this alloy, especially a hard, unflinching character.
Metal
Heavy metal or similar rock music
Crunching power-trio metal
Industrial music is also a blend of metal and techno
Steel
Steel gray.
Metal
Made from or coated with metal
A range of metalled key rings
Steel
Made with, relating to, or consisting of steel
Steel beams.
The steel industry.
A bicycle with a steel frame.
Metal
Make or mend (a road) with road metal
The road was metalled and tolls charged for the upkeep
Follow the metalled road for about 200 yards
Steel
Very firm or strong
A steel grip.
Metal
Any of a category of electropositive elements that usually have a shiny surface, are generally good conductors of heat and electricity, and can be melted or fused, hammered into thin sheets, or drawn into wires. Typical metals form salts with nonmetals, basic oxides with oxygen, and alloys with one another.
Steel
Of a steel gray.
Metal
An alloy of two or more metallic elements.
Steel
To cover, plate, edge, or point with steel.
Metal
An object made of metal.
Steel
To make hard, strong, or obdurate; strengthen
He steeled himself for disappointment.
Metal
Basic character; mettle.
Steel
An artificial metal produced from iron, harder and more elastic than elemental iron; used figuratively as a symbol of hardness.
Metal
Broken stones used for road surfaces or railroad beds.
Steel
(countable) Any item made of this metal, particularly including:
Metal
Molten glass, especially when used in glassmaking.
Steel
Bladed or pointed weapons, as swords, javelins, daggers.
Metal
Molten cast iron.
Steel
A piece used for striking sparks from flint.
Metal
(Printing) Type made of metal.
Steel
Armor.
Metal
(Music) Heavy metal.
Steel
A honing steel, a tool used to sharpen or hone metal blades.
Metal
To cover or surface (a roadbed, for example) with broken stones.
Steel
(sewing) Pieces used to strengthen, support, or expand an item of clothing.
Metal
(heading) Chemical elements or alloys, and the mines where their ores come from.
Steel
(dialectal) A flat iron.
Metal
Any of a number of chemical elements in the periodic table that form a metallic bond with other metal atoms; generally shiny, somewhat malleable and hard, often a conductor of heat and electricity.
Steel
A sewing needle; a knitting needle; a sharp metal stylus.
Metal
Any material with similar physical properties, such as an alloy.
Steel
(printing) An engraving plate:
Metal
(astronomy) An element which was not directly created after the Big Bang but instead formed through nuclear reactions; any element other than hydrogen and helium.
Steel
Projectiles.
Metal
Crushed rock, stones etc. used to make a road.
Steel
(sewing) A fringe of beads or decoration of this metal.
Metal
(mining) The ore from which a metal is derived.
Steel
A type of slide used while playing the steel guitar.
Metal
(obsolete) A mine from which ores are taken.
Steel
Medicinal consumption of this metal; chalybeate medicine; (eventually) any iron or iron-treated water consumed as a medical treatment.
Metal
(tincture) A light tincture used in a coat of arms, specifically argent (white or silver) and or (gold).
Steel
(countable) Varieties of this metal.
Metal
Molten glass that is to be blown or moulded to form objects.
Steel
The gray hue of this metal; steel-gray, or steel blue.
Metal
(music) A category of rock music encompassing a number of genres (including thrash metal, death metal, heavy metal, etc.) characterized by strong drum-beats and distorted guitars.
Steel
(figurative) Extreme hardness or resilience.
Metal
The substance that constitutes something or someone; matter; hence, character or temper.
Steel
Made of steel.
Metal
The effective power or calibre of guns carried by a vessel of war.
Steel
Similar to steel in color, strength, or the like; steely.
Metal
The rails of a railway.
Steel
(business) Of or belonging to the manufacture or trade in steel.
Metal
The actual airline operating a flight, rather than any of the codeshare operators.
We have American Airlines tickets, but it's on British Airways metal.
Steel
Containing steel.
Metal
(music) Characterized by strong drum-beats and distorted guitars.
Steel
(printing) Engraved on steel.
Metal
Having the emotional or social characteristics associated with metal music; brash, bold, frank, unyielding, etc.
Steel
(transitive) To edge, cover, or point with steel.
Metal
To make a road using crushed rock, stones etc.
Steel
(transitive) To harden or strengthen; to nerve or make obdurate; to fortify against.
Metal
An elementary substance, as sodium, calcium, or copper, whose oxide or hydroxide has basic rather than acid properties, as contrasted with the nonmetals, or metalloids. No sharp line can be drawn between the metals and nonmetals, and certain elements partake of both acid and basic qualities, as chromium, manganese, bismuth, etc.
Steel
To back with steel.
Metal
Ore from which a metal is derived; - so called by miners.
Steel
To treat a liquid with steel for medicinal purposes.
Metal
A mine from which ores are taken.
Slaves . . . and persons condemned to metals.
Steel
To press with a flat iron.
Metal
The substance of which anything is made; material; hence, constitutional disposition; character; temper.
Not till God make men of some other metal than earth.
Steel
To cause to resemble steel in appearance.
Metal
Courage; spirit; mettle. See Mettle.
Steel
(transitive) To steelify; to turn iron into steel.
Metal
The broken stone used in macadamizing roads and ballasting railroads.
Steel
(transitive) To electroplate an item, particularly an engraving plate, with a layer of iron.
Metal
The effective power or caliber of guns carried by a vessel of war.
Steel
(transitive) To sharpen with a honing steel.
Metal
Glass in a state of fusion.
Steel
Coldbath Fields Prison in London, closed in 1877.
Metal
The rails of a railroad.
Steel
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.
Metal
To cover with metal; as, to metal a ship's bottom; to metal a road.
Steel
An instrument or implement made of steel
Metal
Any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
Steel
A weapon, as a sword, dagger, etc.
While doubting thus he stood,Received the steel bathed in his brother's blood.
Metal
A mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten;
Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper
Steel
Fig.: Anything of extreme hardness; that which is characterized by sternness or rigor.
Metal
Cover with metal
Steel
An instrument of steel (usually a round rod) for sharpening knives.
Metal
Containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal;
A metallic compound
Metallic luster
The strange metallic note of the meadow lark, suggesting the clash of vibrant blades
Steel
A chalybeate medicine.
Metal
Alloyed Metal
Brass is a metal alloy of copper and zinc.
Steel
A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint.
Metal
Precious Metal
Silver metal has been utilized for coins and jewelry.
Steel
To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel a razor; to steel an ax.
Steel
To make hard or strong; hence, to make insensible or obdurate.
Lies well steeled with weighty arguments.
O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts.
Why will you fight against so sweet a passion,And steel your heart to such a world of charms?
Steel
To cause to resemble steel, as in smoothness, polish, or other qualities.
These waters, steeledBy breezeless air to smoothest polish.
Steel
To cover, as an electrotype plate, with a thin layer of iron by electrolysis. The iron thus deposited is very hard, like steel.
Steel
An alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
Steel
A cutting or thrusting weapon with a long blade
Steel
Knife sharpener consisting of a ridged steel rod
Steel
Get ready for something difficult or unpleasant
Steel
Cover, plate, or edge with steel
Steel
Strong Steel
Steel beams provide structural strength to skyscrapers.
Steel
Alloy Steel
Stainless steel is created by adding chromium to regular steel.
Steel
Utilitarian Steel
Steel is used in kitchenware like pots and pans due to its durability.
Steel
Cutting Steel
High carbon steel is commonly utilized to create sharp blades.
Common Curiosities
Is all metal suitable for electrical wiring?
Not all, but many metals like copper and aluminum are used in electrical wiring due to their conductivity.
What characterizes a metal?
Metals are typically characterized by malleability, ductility, and electrical conductivity.
Can steel exist without metal?
No, steel is an alloy and cannot exist without its primary metal, iron.
What makes steel strong?
The combination of iron and carbon along with other elements if needed, imparts strength to steel.
What is steel predominantly made of?
Steel is primarily made of iron and carbon.
Are all metals naturally occurring?
Most metals occur naturally, though some are synthesized and all can form alloys.
Can metal be liquid?
Yes, metals like mercury are liquid at room temperature, and others melt at higher temperatures.
Is aluminum a metal or steel?
Aluminum is a metal and is not steel as it doesn’t primarily contain iron.
Are metals only used in construction and industry?
No, metals are used in various applications, from jewelry to coins and beyond.
Are all steels the same?
No, steel can vary widely, e.g., stainless steel and carbon steel, based on additional elements and proportions.
Why is steel preferred in construction?
Steel offers high strength, durability, and can be designed for specific structural needs.
Is steel utilized in jewelry?
Yes, stainless steel is often used in jewelry due to its durability and luster.
What contributes to the corrosion resistance of stainless steel?
Chromium is added to steel to create stainless steel, which is corrosion-resistant.
Can steel be melted and recycled?
Yes, steel can be melted and is often recycled in various industries.
Which metals are magnetic?
Some metals, such as iron, nickel, and cobalt, are magnetic.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
