naturally occuring substance based on a carbon skeleton similar to that of sterol molecules, 1936, from sterol + -oid "resembling." Related: Steroids.
Entries linking to steroid
sterol n.
"white, crystalline substance discovered in gallstones," 1913, abstracted from cholesterol.
-oid
word-forming element meaning "like, like that of, thing like a ______," from Latinized form of Greek -oeidēs (three syllables), from eidos "form," related to idein "to see," eidenai "to know;" literally "to see" (from PIE *weid-es-, from root *weid- "to see"). The -o- is connective or a stem vowel from the previous element. Often implying an incomplete or imperfect resemblance to the thing indicated.
corticosteroid n.
1944, from cortico-, combining form of corticoid, + steroid. So called because they are produced in the adrenal cortex. Related: Corticosterone.