STEROID
Dictionary entry overview: What does steroid mean?
• STEROID (noun)
The noun STEROID has 2 senses:
1. any of several fat-soluble organic compounds having as a basis 17 carbon atoms in four rings; many have important physiological effects
2. any hormone affecting the development and growth of sex organs
Familiarity information: STEROID used as a noun is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• STEROID (noun)
Meaning:
Any of several fat-soluble organic compounds having as a basis 17 carbon atoms in four rings; many have important physiological effects
Classified under:
Nouns denoting substances
Hypernyms ("steroid" is a kind of...):
organic compound (any compound of carbon and another element or a radical)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "steroid"):
ketosteroid (a steroid containing a ketone group)
steroid alcohol; sterol (any of a group of natural steroid alcohols derived from plants or animals; they are waxy insoluble substances)
bile acid (any of the steroid acids generated in the liver and stored with bile)
cardiac glucoside; cardiac glycoside (obtained from a number of plants and used to stimulate the heart in cases of heart failure)
Meaning:
Any hormone affecting the development and growth of sex organs
Classified under:
Nouns denoting substances
Synonyms:
sex hormone; steroid hormone; steroid
Hypernyms ("steroid" is a kind of...):
endocrine; hormone; internal secretion (the secretion of an endocrine gland that is transmitted by the blood to the tissue on which it has a specific effect)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "steroid"):
progestin; progestogen (any of a group of steroid hormones that have the effect of progesterone)
androgen; androgenic hormone (male sex hormone that is produced in the testes and responsible for typical male sexual characteristics)
estrogen; oestrogen (a general term for female steroid sex hormones that are secreted by the ovary and responsible for typical female sexual characteristics)
adrenal cortical steroid; corticoid; corticosteroid (a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex or synthesized; administered as drugs they reduce swelling and decrease the body's immune response)
anabolic steroid (any of a group of synthetic steroid hormones used to stimulate muscle and bone growth; more than 100 have been developed and each requires a prescription to be used legally in the United States; sometimes used illicitly by athletes to increase their strength)
