opium
/'oupjəm/
Definition
- Noun:
- An addictive narcotic drug: Opium is a highly addictive narcotic substance obtained from the unripe seed capsules of the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum). It contains alkaloids such as morphine and codeine, which act on the central nervous system to relieve pain and induce euphoria, sleep, or stupor.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- The historical Opium Wars were conflicts over trade in opium.
- Opium has been used for centuries as a painkiller and recreational drug.
- The cultivation of opium poppies is illegal in many countries.
Advanced Usage and Context
- Historical/Cultural Context: Opium has played a significant role in history, medicine, and socio-political conflicts, particularly in Asia.
- Legal and Medical Context: In modern usage, "opium" typically refers to the illegal narcotic or its raw form, distinct from its medically refined derivatives like morphine or codeine.
- The treaty aimed to curb the illicit opium trade.
Variants and Related Words
- Opium poppy (n): The plant () from which opium is extracted.
- Opium den (n): A historical term for a place where opium was smoked and sold.
- Opioid (n): A broader class of natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic substances that act on opioid receptors in the brain; opium is a natural opioid.
Synonyms
- Narcotic: A drug that affects mood or behavior and induces sleep or stupor.
- Opiate: A drug derived from or related to opium.
Related Phrases and Terms
- Opium trade: The commercial exchange of opium, historically a major political issue.
- Opium addiction: A state of physiological dependence on opium.
Noun
-
an addictive narcotic extracted from seed capsules of the opium poppy
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