1. a solid solution of carbon in alpha-iron that is formed when steel is cooled so rapidly that the change from austenite to pearlite is suppressed; responsible for the hardness of quenched steel;
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
martensite
n 1: a solid solution of carbon in alpha-iron that is formed
when steel is cooled so rapidly that the change from
austenite to pearlite is suppressed; responsible for the
hardness of quenched steel