steroid

[ steer-oid, ster- ]

noun

1. any of a large group of fat-soluble organic compounds, as the sterols, bile acids, and sex hormones, most of which have specific physiological action.
2. anabolic steroid.

adjective

1. Also ste·roi·dal [] pertaining to or characteristic of a steroid.

steroid

/ ˈstɛr-; ˈstɪərɔɪd /

noun

1. biochem any of a large group of fat-soluble organic compounds containing a characteristic chemical ring system. The majority, including the sterols, bile acids, many hormones, and the D vitamins, have important physiological action

steroid

/ stĕr′oid′ /

1. Any of a large class of organic compounds having as a basis 17 carbon atoms arranged in four rings fused together. Steroids include many biologically important compounds, including cholesterol and other sterols, the sex hormones (such as testosterone and estrogen), bile acids, adrenal hormones, plant alkaloids, and certain forms of vitamins.
2. Any of various hormones having the structure of a steroid that are made synthetically, especially for use in medicine.
3. An anabolic steroid.

steroid

1. A group of molecules that includes cholesterol . The sex hormones estrogen and testosterone are built from steroids, as are many modern anti-inflammatory drugs.

Notes

Steroids are often used illegally to increase the performance of competitive athletes of almost all age groups. They are banned in many athletic competitions, such as the Olympic Games .

Derived Forms

• steˈroidal, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of steroid¹

First recorded in 1925–30; ster(ol) + -oid

Word History and Origins

Origin of steroid¹

C20: from sterol + -oid

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on steroids, Slang. much larger, stronger, or more extreme than is normal or expected:

   Yosemite is nature on steroids. He's so lovable, he's like Santa Claus on steroids.

Example Sentences

By that point, new treatments had been discovered, including the cheap steroid dexamethasone, and the first Covid vaccines were starting to be rolled out in small numbers.

From BBC

"They're put on a steroid which completely changes their personality and the way that they look and I don't think we were quite prepared for all that."

From BBC

Feldman prepares a steroid injection for an unhoused patient.

From Los Angeles Times

In 1991, Rucker met with a victim in Seattle and attributed the sexual abuse he’d committed to a steroid medication he was taking and to God, a meeting attendee wrote in a letter to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

The 23-year-old returned positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol - a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass - during Indian Wells.

From BBC