opiate

[ noun adjective oh-pee-it, -eyt; verb oh-pee-eyt ]

noun

1. Biochemistry, Pharmacology. a drug containing opium or its derivatives, used in medicine for inducing sleep and relieving pain:

   The opium poppy yields morphine, codeine, and other opiates.

2. Biochemistry, Pharmacology. any sedative, soporific, or narcotic:

   Back then, the country physician would concoct all sorts of opiates in a crude kitchen laboratory.

   Synonyms: drug

   Antonyms: stimulant

3. anything that causes dullness or inaction or that soothes the feelings:

   His favorite opiate seems to be a six-pack in front of the TV.

   Synonyms: anodyne

adjective

1. Biochemistry, Pharmacology. mixed or prepared with opium:

   Some opiate substances, such as thebaine, may be more toxic than narcotic.

2. Biochemistry, Pharmacology. inducing sleep; soporific; narcotic:

   Subjects were given a variety of opiate teas over the course of a four-week study.

   Synonyms: sedative

3. causing dullness or inaction:

   The opiate effects of their droning reprimands were legendary.

verb (used with object)

, o·pi·at·ed, o·pi·at·ing.

1. to subject to an opiate; stupefy:

   The violent patients were routinely opiated.

2. to dull or deaden:

   This dreadful music is opiating my spirit.

opiate

noun

1. any of various narcotic drugs, such as morphine and heroin, that act on opioid receptors
2. any other narcotic or sedative drug
3. something that soothes, deadens, or induces sleep

adjective

1. containing or consisting of opium
2. inducing relaxation; soporific

verb

1. to treat with an opiate
2. to dull or deaden

Other Words From

• un·opi·ated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of opiate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French, from Medieval Latin opiātus “bringing sleep,” equivalent to Latin opi(um) “poppy juice” + adjective suffix -ātus; opium, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of opiate¹

C16: from Medieval Latin opiātus; from Latin opium poppy juice, opium

Example Sentences

Instead, he described considering the possibility of a "highly toxic synthetic opiate" such as carfentanyl, which has a potency "hundreds of thousands of times greater than fentanyl".

From BBC

There are an average of 49 drug poisoning deaths weekly involving opiates - such as heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl and including synthetic opioids - across England and Wales, the latest official figures suggest.

From BBC

And yet with fentanyl, the drug naloxone, if administered quickly enough, can reverse the effects of opiates and save lives.

From Los Angeles Times

But when a nurse came to her room, instead of bringing her healthy newborn, Halle, she told Horton that she tested positive for opiates in her urine and could not take her baby home.

From Los Angeles Times

Charlie says he took a lot of medication including opiates and he felt like he had turned into a zombie.

From BBC

Related Words

• narcotic
• opium
• sedative
• tranquilizer