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stainless steel

stainless steel

40 2.8
A metal that does not rust or stain
  • noun
  • /ˈsteɪnləs stiːl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : acero inoxidable
  • You've got all brand-new stainless steel appliances, floor-to-ceiling windows.
  • made of stainless steel
  • corrosion-resistant stainless steel
  • stainless steel finish

Also stainless steel has been used for centuries as well.

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Examples

  • For her new kitchen, she chose a stainless steel sink that is easy to clean and resistant to stains.

  • Well, it's made out of stainless steel...

  • And so I used this stainless steel pan instead.

  • - This van is lined in stainless steel.

  • The knife has a stainless-steel blade... ...perfect for any use.

  • A lot of cookware today you want to use stainless steel pans or cast iron.

  • One of my essentials is just the stainless steel Yeti kind of thermos cup.

  • The chef prefers to use a stainless steel pot for cooking because it doesn't react with acidic foods.

  • Many professional kitchens have stainless steel countertops, as they are durable and hygienic.

How Corrosion-Resistant

titanium
  • Specialized
51 5.6
Monel
  • Specialized
8.9
stainless steel
  • Specialized
40 2.8
bronze
41 3.0
steel
536 1.4
iron
227 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

stainless + steel

The meaning 'a type of steel that resists staining or corrosion' is directly and compositionally derived from 'stainless' (resistant to staining) modifying 'steel' (the metal). This adjective+noun compound follows a standard, cross-linguistically common pattern (e.g., acero inoxidable, acier inoxydable), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The noun stainless steel comes from the simple image of stainless and steel together: metal that does not get 'stains' or rust. That's why the name means a kind of steel that stays clean and does not rust.