steroid

«steroid» in Mova's school dictionary: a kind of chemical, made in the body or as a medicine… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

noun (a steroid, steroids)

meaning for a pupil

1) A steroid is a kind of chemical, made in the body or as a medicine, that can calm swelling or act like hormones. tree →

2) Steroid creams and inhalers are medicines doctors give for eczema, asthma and other illnesses. tree →

3) Steroids (anabolic steroids) are also drugs some people take to build muscles; using them like this is often against sports rules and can harm health. tree →

4) (informal) «On steroids» means much bigger or stronger than usual: «It's like a skateboard on steroids». tree →

sense in the lessons

In health lessons, children learn that a brown asthma inhaler may contain a steroid medicine that is safe when a doctor prescribes it. In sport and news, athletes can be banned for taking steroids to cheat. Informally, «on steroids» is a funny way to say «extra powerful». Phrases: «steroid cream», «steroid inhaler», «on steroids», «tested for steroids».

examples

• The doctor gave me a steroid cream for my eczema. tree →
• My brown inhaler has a small dose of steroid in it. tree →
• The runner was banned for taking steroids. tree →
• Taking steroids without a doctor can damage your heart. tree →
• This new bike is like a scooter on steroids. tree →
• Your body makes some steroids naturally, like hormones. tree →

note

Countable; often plural «steroids». Medicine steroids from a doctor are not the same as muscle-building steroids misused in sport. Pronounced STEER-oyd or STAIR-oyd.

In the corpora

• A preventer inhaler contains a steroid that calms airway swelling over time and only works if taken every day.
• Inhaled steroids are not the same as the steroids some athletes misuse.
• Thick moisturisers called emollients every day, and steroid creams for flare-ups used as the doctor says, keep eczema calm.
• Doctors treat eczema with emollients every day and steroid creams for flare-ups, the times when it gets worse.
• Steroid creams used as the doctor says are safe and don't thin the skin when used properly.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «steroid» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.