an ‧ a ‧ bol ‧ ic ste ‧ roid /ˌænəbɒlɪk ˈstɪərɔɪd, -ˈster- $ -bɑːlɪk ˈstɪrɔɪd, -ˈster-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1900-2000 ; Origin: anabolic 'making body substance' 1800-1900 From ana- 'up, upwards' (from Latin , from Greek , 'up, back, again' ) + metabolic ]
a drug that makes muscles grow quickly, sometimes used illegally by people in sport