Definition

Noun: A sleeping capsule is a small, solid, typically cylindrical dosage form of medicine designed to be swallowed. It contains a soporific (sleep-inducing) drug intended to help a person fall asleep.

Usage

The term "sleeping capsule" refers specifically to the physical pill or capsule containing a sleep aid. It is a formal or technical term. * The doctor prescribed a sleeping capsule for her occasional insomnia. * He took a sleeping capsule before the long flight to help him rest.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in medical, pharmaceutical, or formal contexts. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to use terms like "sleeping pill," "sleep aid," or the brand name of the medication.
• It emphasizes the form (capsule) as much as the function (sleep-inducing).

Variants and Related Words

• Sleeping pill (n): A more common general term for any solid oral medication taken to induce sleep, which may be a tablet, capsule, or caplet.
• Hypnotic (n): A clinical term for a sleep-inducing drug or agent.
• Soporific (n/adj): A formal word for something that causes sleep; can be used as a synonym for a sleeping drug.

Synonyms

Sedative, hypnotic, soporific, sleep aid.

Related Phrases

• Take a sleeping capsule: To ingest the medication.
  • She decided to take a sleeping capsule after a very stressful day.

Noun

1. a soporific drug in the form of a pill (or tablet or capsule)