tobacco

[ tuh-bak-oh ]

noun

, plural to·bac·cos, to·bac·coes.

1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Nicotiana, of the nightshade family, especially one of those species, as N. tabacum, whose leaves are prepared for smoking or chewing or as snuff.
2. the prepared leaves, as used in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.
3. any product or products made from such leaves.
4. any of various similar plants of other genera.

tobacco

/ təˈbækəʊ /

noun

1. any of numerous solanaceous plants of the genus Nicotiana, having mildly narcotic properties, tapering hairy leaves, and tubular or funnel-shaped fragrant flowers. The species N. tabacum is cultivated as the chief source of commercial tobacco
2. the leaves of certain of these plants dried and prepared for snuff, chewing, or smoking

Derived Forms

• toˈbaccoless, adjective

Other Words From

• to·bacco·less adjective
• anti·to·bacco adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tobacco¹

1525–35; < Spanish tabaco, perhaps < Arawak: a pipe for smoking the plant, or roll of leaves smoked, or the plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of tobacco¹

C16: from Spanish tabaco, perhaps from Taino: leaves rolled for smoking, assumed by the Spaniards to be the name of the plant

Example Sentences

Mr Rowlands assumed they were burgling a tobacco shop and the numbers referred to cigarettes.

From BBC

Meanwhile, the boss of parenting site Mumsnet said the government was treating baby milk like tobacco, with the restrictions on advertising.

From BBC

The state of California added its own twist that year, banning most flavored tobacco products.

From Los Angeles Times

However, in many of these studies, researchers were not able to fully separate out whether women were smoking both cannabis and tobacco, which was a limitation.

From Salon

It would spread to a nearby tobacco warehouse, an ice cream factory and the Harland and Wolff engine factory.

From BBC

Related Words

• cigarette
• crop
• smoking