opium

[ oh-pee-uhm ]

noun

1. the dried, condensed juice of a poppy, Papaver somniferum, that has a narcotic, soporific, analgesic, and astringent effect and contains morphine, codeine, papaverine, and other alkaloids used in medicine in their isolated or derived forms: a narcotic substance, poisonous in large doses.
2. anything that causes dullness or inaction or that soothes the mind or emotions.

opium

/ ˈəʊpɪəm /

noun

1. the dried juice extracted from the unripe seed capsules of the opium poppy that contains alkaloids such as morphine and codeine: used in medicine as an analgesic
2. something having a tranquillizing or stupefying effect

opium

/ ō′pē-əm /

1. A highly addictive, yellowish-brown drug obtained from the pods of a variety of poppy, from which other drugs, such as morphine, are prepared.

opium

1. A highly addictive drug obtained from the poppy plant. Several other drugs, such as morphine and codeine , are derived from opium.

Word History and Origins

Origin of opium¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek ópion poppy juice, equivalent to op ( ós ) sap, juice + -ion diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of opium¹

C14: from Latin: poppy juice, from Greek opion, diminutive of opos juice of a plant

Example Sentences

"When I first started work, you could buy poppy heads - opium," she said.

From BBC

Unlike synthetic opioids produced using chemicals in a lab, heroin and morphine are refined from the gum extracted from Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy.

From Salon

He said their introduction into the UK market appears to have followed a steep reduction in the production of heroin, after the government in Afghanistan cracked down on the production of opium poppies.

From BBC

In April, the Thai authorities quietly eased restrictions on opium and psilocybin "magic" mushrooms, allowing them to be used for medicine and research, signalling yet more potential drug reform.

From Salon

Its mission: destroy opium poppies used to make heroin.

From New York Times

Related Words

• drug
• heroin
• morphine
• opiate
• poppy