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Steroid

Etymology:

Definition:

From 1913; back-formation from cholesterol; Gr. kholḗ: “gall, bile” + Gr. stereós: “firm, solid”

A class of organic compounds having a structure of 17 carbon atoms arranged in four rings; they are lipids, and occur naturally as sterols, bile acids, adrenal and sex hormones, and some vitamins; many drugs are synthetic steroids

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