---
title: steroid — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «steroid» in the school dictionary: A steroid is a kind of chemical, made in the body or as a medicine, that can calm swelling or act like hormones. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# steroid

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** steroid, that, Steroid creams, doctors, Steroids, people · **What happens:** be, make, calm, give, take, build · **To what, where:** kind, body, swelling, medicines, drugs, muscles · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«steroid» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [steroid in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/steroid.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A steroid is a kind of chemical, made in the body or as a medicine, that can calm swelling or act like hormones.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steroid:m1:1
# text = A steroid is a kind of chemical, made in the body or as a medicine, that can calm swelling or act like hormones.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	steroid	steroid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	chemical	chemical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
19	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
20	calm	calm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	_
21	swelling	swelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	_
24	like	like	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	hormones	hormone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a steroid | a kind |  |  |  | of chemical | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a kind *not said here* |  | the body or a medicine |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **calm** | can | that | swelling or act |  |  |  | like hormones | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus swelling=Experiencer |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Steroid creams and inhalers are medicines doctors give for eczema, asthma and other illnesses.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steroid:m2:1
# text = Steroid creams and inhalers are medicines doctors give for eczema, asthma and other illnesses.
1	Steroid	steroid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	creams	cream	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	inhalers	inhaler	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	medicines	medicine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	doctors	doctor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	give	give	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	eczema	eczema	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	asthma	asthma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	illnesses	illness	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Steroid creams and inhalers | medicines |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present | doctors | medicines *not said here* |  |  |  | for eczema and asthma and other illnesses | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent medicine=Theme for eczema=Asset |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
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.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steroid:m3:1
# text = 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.
1	Steroids	steroid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	anabolic	anabolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	steroids	steroid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	also	also	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	drugs	drug	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
9	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	det	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	build	build	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
14	muscles	muscle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	24	punct	_	_
16	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	24	csubj	_	_
17	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	_
18	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	16	obl	_	_
20	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	cop	_	_
21	often	often	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
22	against	against	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	compound	_	_
24	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	parataxis	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
26	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	27	aux	_	_
27	harm	harm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	conj	_	_
28	health	health	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Steroids | drugs |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | present | some people | drugs *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drug=Theme |
| 3 | **build** | to-infinitive | some people *not said here* | muscles |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset muscle=Product |
| 4 | **use** | gerund |  | muscles *= muscle* |  |  |  | like this | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |
| 5 | **is** | present | using |  |  |  |  | against sports rules; often *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **harm** | can | using *not said here* | health |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus health=Experiencer |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«On steroids» means much bigger or stronger than usual: «It's like a skateboard on steroids».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steroid:m4:1
# text = «On steroids» means much bigger or stronger than usual: «It's like a skateboard on steroids».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	On	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	steroids	steroid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	much	much	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	ccomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	stronger	strong	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	conj	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
16	like	like	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	skateboard	skateboard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
19	on	on	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	steroids	steroid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | steroids |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | It |  |  | steroids |  | like a skateboard | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor gave me a steroid cream for my eczema.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steroid:x1:1
# text = The doctor gave me a steroid cream for my eczema.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	steroid	steroid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	eczema	eczema	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the doctor | a steroid cream | me |  |  | for my eczema | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent i=Recipient cream=Theme for eczema=Asset |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brown inhaler has a small dose of steroid in it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steroid:x2:1
# text = My brown inhaler has a small dose of steroid in it.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brown	brown	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	inhaler	inhaler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	dose	dose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	steroid	steroid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | My brown inhaler | a small dose of steroid in steroid |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dose=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The runner was banned for taking steroids.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steroid:x3:1
# text = The runner was banned for taking steroids.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	runner	runner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	banned	ban	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	steroids	steroid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ban** | past · passive |  | the runner |  |  |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **take** | gerund |  | steroids |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent steroid=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Taking steroids without a doctor can damage your heart.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steroid:x4:1
# text = Taking steroids without a doctor can damage your heart.
1	Taking	take	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	steroids	steroid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	damage	damage	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | gerund |  | steroids |  |  |  | without a doctor | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent steroid=Theme |
| 2 | **damage** | can | Taking | your heart |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent heart=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This new bike is like a scooter on steroids.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steroid:x5:1
# text = This new bike is like a scooter on steroids.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	scooter	scooter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	steroids	steroid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this new bike |  |  | steroids |  | like a scooter | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your body makes some steroids naturally, like hormones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steroid:x6:1
# text = Your body makes some steroids naturally, like hormones.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	steroids	steroid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	naturally	naturally	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	hormones	hormone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Your body | some steroids |  |  |  | like hormones; naturally *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset steroid=Product |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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