corticosteroid
|cor-ti-co-ster-oid|
🇺🇸
/ˌkɔːr.tɪˈkoʊ.stəˌrɔɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˌkɔː.tɪˈkɒ.stɪˌrɔɪd/
hormone reducing inflammation
Etymology
'corticosteroid' originates from 'cortex' and 'steroid', where 'cortex' meant 'bark' or 'outer layer' and 'steroid' refers to a type of organic compound.
'corticosteroid' was formed by combining 'cortex' and 'steroid' in the 20th century to describe hormones produced by the adrenal cortex.
Initially, it referred to hormones produced by the adrenal cortex, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a class of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex or synthesized; used to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.
Doctors often prescribe corticosteroids to treat severe allergies.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/21 07:33