Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of various sedative narcotics containing opium or one or more of its natural or synthetic derivatives.
  • noun A drug, hormone, or other chemical substance having sedative or narcotic effects similar to those containing opium or its derivatives.
  • noun Something that dulls the senses and induces relaxation or torpor.
  • adjective Containing opium or any of its derivatives.
  • adjective Resembling opium or its derivatives in activity.
  • adjective Inducing sleep or sedation; soporific.
  • adjective Causing dullness or apathy; deadening.
  • transitive verb To subject to the action of an opiate.
  • transitive verb To dull or deaden as if with a narcotic drug.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Furnished with opium; mixed or prepared with opium; hence, inducing sleep; soporiferous; somniferous; narcotic; causing rest or inaction.
  • noun Any medicine that contains opium and has the quality of inducing sleep or repose; a narcotic; hence, anything which induces rest or inaction, or relieves uneasiness or irritation, mental or bodily; anything that dulls sensation, mental or physical.
  • To lull to sleep; ply with opiates.
  • To dull the effect of upon the mind, as by an opiate.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb rare To subject to the influence of an opiate; to put to sleep.
  • adjective Inducing sleep; somniferous; narcotic; hence, anodyne; causing rest, dullness, or inaction.
  • noun Originally, a medicine of a thicker consistency than sirup, prepared with opium.
  • noun Any medicine that contains opium, and has the quality of inducing sleep or repose; a narcotic.
  • noun Anything which induces rest or inaction; that which quiets uneasiness.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Relating to, resembling, or containing opium.
  • adjective Soporific; inducing sleep or sedation.
  • adjective Deadening; causing apathy or dullness.
  • noun A drug, hormone or other substance derived from or related to opium.
  • noun Something that dulls the senses and induces a false and unrealistic sense of contentment.
  • verb transitive To treat with an opiate drug.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a narcotic drug that contains opium or an opium derivative

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Medieval Latin opiātum, from Latin opium, opium; see opium.]

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Examples

  • Dr. Marcus Rempel, medical director for Neighborcare Health, said providers were disturbed to find that many of the patients inundating its six local clinics seeking narcotic pain relief weren't 50- or 60-year-old workers with back injuries, but young adults of 25 or 30, asking for long-term opiate medication.

    The Seattle Times 2011

  • And, of course, they brought their heavyweight weapon, the one I believe that Lenin called the opiate of the masses: religion.

    Gustavo Arellano: ¡ASK A MEXICAN!: Special Conquistador Edition Gustavo Arellano 2011

  • And, of course, they brought their heavyweight weapon, the one I believe that Lenin called the opiate of the masses: religion.

    Gustavo Arellano: ¡ASK A MEXICAN!: Special Conquistador Edition Gustavo Arellano 2011

  • You haul his little butt down to the "druggie zone" - leave him there for a while so he can feast his eyes on the real results of long term opiate or crack use ... kind of like the old "scared straight" concept.

    Sound Politics: Health Effects Of Pot Get Short Shrift: Bummer, Man 2007

  • "Cash on corporate balance sheets is like a drug for CEOs," he offers, referring to the opiate class of drugs which lead to reduced activity rather than, say, speed.

    unknown title 2011

  • "Cash on corporate balance sheets is like a drug for CEOs," he offers, referring to the opiate class of drugs which lead to reduced activity rather than, say, speed.

    unknown title 2011

  • "Cash on corporate balance sheets is like a drug for CEOs," he offers, referring to the opiate class of drugs which lead to reduced activity rather than, say, speed.

    unknown title 2011

  • "Cash on corporate balance sheets is like a drug for CEOs," he offers, referring to the opiate class of drugs which lead to reduced activity rather than, say, speed.

    unknown title 2011

  • "Cash on corporate balance sheets is like a drug for CEOs," he offers, referring to the opiate class of drugs which lead to reduced activity rather than, say, speed.

    unknown title 2011

  • "Cash on corporate balance sheets is like a drug for CEOs," he offers, referring to the opiate class of drugs which lead to reduced activity rather than, say, speed.

    unknown title 2011

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