anabolic

(Physiol.) Pertaining to anabolism; an anabolic changes, or processes, more or less constructive in their nature.

Pertaining to or arising from anabolism.

• a. steroid — steroids with a tissue-building effect. Testosterone is an example of a natural anabolic steroid with the, sometimes undesirable, effect of causing masculinization. Synthetic steroids are designed to avoid this problem as much as possible. The purpose of their use includes improvement in body weight in old animals and in the young after debilitating disease or major surgery.