WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
hy•dro•cor•ti•sone
(hī′drə kôr′tə zōn′, -sōn′),USA pronunciation n.
- Biochemistrya steroid hormone, C21H30O5, of the adrenal cortex, active in carbohydrate and protein metabolism.
- Drugs[Pharm.]Also called cortisol. a powerful anti-inflammatory drug, C21H30O5, used in the treatment of shock, allergies, certain forms of arthritis, and other conditions.
- hydro-2 + cortisone 1950–55
'hydrocortisone' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):