steroid
n. countablen. a powerful chemical that can be a medicine or a drug used by athletes to grow bigger muscles. You might take them to treat an illness or, illegally, to get stronger for sports.
n. any of a large group of fat-soluble organic compounds, including certain hormones and vitamins, that share a specific four-ring structure. In common usage, refers to synthetic hormones used to reduce inflammation or to enhance athletic performance by increasing muscle mass.
The doctor prescribed a steroid cream for my skin rash.
The athlete was banned from the competition after testing positive for a performance-enhancing steroid.
While corticosteroids are essential for managing chronic autoimmune conditions, the misuse of anabolic steroids in professional bodybuilding remains a significant ethical and medical concern.
From sterol + -oid.
Often used in the plural when referring to the drugs in a general or medical context.