high-speed steel

A form of high speed steel — A kind of tool steel, invented in the early 20th century, which retains its hardness and temper at high temperatures (at which previous kinds of tool steel would soften), thus allowing cutters made from it to be employed at higher cutting speeds than were previously practical.

Similar
hot-work steel
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Meanings

nounhigh-speed steel (countable and uncountable, plural high-speed steels)

plural high-speed steels

  1. alternativecountableuncountableAlternative form of high speed steel.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan alloy steel that remains hard at a red heat; used to make metal-cutting tools

Similar
hot-work steel
Broader
tool steel

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

high-speed steel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/high-speed%20steel

MLA

“high-speed steel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/high-speed%20steel. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “high-speed steel,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/high-speed%20steel.

Source: high-speed steel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.