Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of numerous naturally occurring or synthetic fat-soluble organic compounds having as a basis 17 carbon atoms arranged in four rings and including the sterols and bile acids, adrenal and sex hormones, certain natural drugs such as digitalis compounds, and the precursors of certain vitamins.
  • idiom (on steroids) In a very large, enhanced, or exaggerated form.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biochemistry A class of organic compounds having a structure of 17 carbon atoms arranged in four rings; they are lipids, and occur naturally as sterols, bile acids, adrenal and sex hormones, and some vitamins; many drugs are synthetic steroids.
  • noun bodybuilding Any anabolic hormone used to promote muscle growth.
  • noun sports, US Any chemical compound used to enhance athletic performance.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any of several fat-soluble organic compounds having as a basis 17 carbon atoms in four rings; many have important physiological effects
  • noun any hormone affecting the development and growth of sex organs

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[ster(ol) + –oid.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From sterol + -oid.

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