noun Uncommon

steroid

STEH-royd

Steroid (noun) means one of a class of organic compounds, including hormones like testosterone and cortisol, built around a distinctive four-ring carbon structure. Example: “The body naturally produces steroids like cholesterol and testosterone.”

noun

One of a class of organic compounds, including hormones like testosterone and cortisol, built around a distinctive four-ring carbon structure.

"The body naturally produces steroids like cholesterol and testosterone."

A synthetic drug related to these hormones, often taken illegally to build muscle or boost athletic performance.

"The athlete was banned after testing positive for steroids."

How to use steroid

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA hormone-related compound the body makes naturally, or a synthetic drug based on one, often linked to bodybuilding and doping in sport.

Common pairings

anabolic steroid take steroids steroid use

Word forms

steroids plural

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The body naturally produces _____ like cholesterol and testosterone.

Etymology

Formed from sterol plus the suffix -oid ("resembling"); sterol itself traces back to cholesterol.

Synonyms

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sex hormone steroid hormone

Rhymes for steroid

void avoid hyoid droid devoid android tabloid typhoid thyroid humanoid asteroid paranoid

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Frequently asked questions

What does “steroid” mean?

The word “steroid” means one of a class of organic compounds, including hormones like testosterone and cortisol, built around a distinctive four-ring carbon structure. In plain terms, a hormone-related compound the body makes naturally, or a synthetic drug based on one, often linked to bodybuilding and doping in sport.

How do you pronounce “steroid”?

“Steroid” is pronounced STEH-royd (/ˈstɛɹɔɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “steroid” in a sentence?

Here is “steroid” used in a sentence: “The body naturally produces steroids like cholesterol and testosterone.”

What part of speech is “steroid”?

“Steroid” is a noun.

Is “steroid” a common word?

“Steroid” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “steroid” have?

“Steroid” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of a class of organic compounds, including hormones like testosterone and cortisol, built around a distinctive four-ring carbon structure.