steroid
steroid Lexical Profile
steroid Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A synthetic pharmaceutical drug resembling natural human hormones, specifically either a corticosteroid used to treat inflammation or an anabolic steroid used to promote muscle growth.
"The doctor prescribed an inhaled steroid to help manage her severe asthma symptoms."
Any of a large class of organic compounds with a characteristic molecular structure containing four rings of carbon atoms, including many hormones, alkaloids, and vitamins.
"Cholesterol is an essential steroid that serves as a structural component of animal cell membranes."
• adjective
Relating to, containing, or having the biochemical structure of a steroid.
"The patient was prescribed a mild steroid cream to soothe the persistent skin rash."
Word Nuance & Usage
In everyday usage, 'steroid' often refers specifically to anabolic steroids used illegally to build muscle, whereas in medical contexts it typically refers to corticosteroids prescribed to reduce inflammation.
• Rhymes for steroid
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 1930s from 'sterol' (derived from Greek 'stereos', meaning 'solid', and 'chole', meaning 'bile', as cholesterol was first isolated from gallstones) combined with the suffix '-oid' (meaning 'resembling').