morphine

[ mawr-feen ]

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a white, bitter, crystalline alkaloid, C 1 7 H 1 9 NO 3 ⋅H 2 O, the most important narcotic and addictive principle of opium, obtained by extraction and crystallization and used chiefly in medicine as a pain reliever and sedative.

morphine

/ ˈmɔːfiːn; ˈmɔːfɪə /

noun

1. an alkaloid extracted from opium: used in medicine as an analgesic and sedative, although repeated use causes addiction. Formula: C 17 H 19 NO 3

morphine

/ môr′fēn′ /

1. A highly addictive drug derived from opium and used to treat intractable pain, as in severe injury or metastatic cancer.

morphine

1. An addictive drug derived from opium that is used as an analgesic and sedative.

Other Word Forms

• mor·phin·ic [mawr-, fin, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of morphine¹

From the German word Morphin, dating back to 1820–30. See Morpheus, -ine ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of morphine¹

C19: from French, from Morpheus

Example Sentences

Back in the day, Sacramento authorities “escorted their criminals, morphine addicts and alcoholics” to the area, according to a historian quoted in the Sacramento Bee in 1984.

From Los Angeles Times

"When I woke up, I was so full of morphine," he remembers.

From BBC

When her dressings are changed the nurses have to give her morphine.

From BBC

The New Yorker was taken to a hospital where she received IV fluids and morphine and “the pain finally went away,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Dr Paw receives an update from a nurse on her condition and orders some morphine.

From BBC

Related Words

• aspirin
• drug
• medicine
• ointment
• opiate
• sedative
• tranquilizer