nicotine

[ nik-uh-teen, -tin, nik-uh-teen ]
/ ˈnɪk əˌtin, -tɪn, ˌnɪk əˈtin /

noun Chemistry.

a colorless, oily, water-soluble, highly toxic, liquid alkaloid, C10H14N2, found in tobacco and valued as an insecticide.

Origin of nicotine

From French, dating back to 1810–20; see origin at nicotiana, -ine2

OTHER WORDS FROM nicotine

nic·o·tined, adjective nic·o·tine·less, adjective

Words nearby nicotine

nicotiana, nicotin-, nicotinamide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, nicotine, nicotinic, nicotinic acid, nicotinism, nicotinize, nicoya

Example sentences from the Web for nicotine

British Dictionary definitions for nicotine

nicotine
/ (ˈnɪkəˌtiːn) /

noun

a colourless oily acrid toxic liquid that turns yellowish-brown in air and light: the principal alkaloid in tobacco, used as an agricultural insecticide. Formula: C 10 H 14 N 2

Derived forms of nicotine

nicotined, adjective nicotinic (ˌnɪkəˈtɪnɪk), adjective

Word Origin for nicotine

C19: from French, from New Latin herba nicotiana Nicot's plant, named after J. Nicot (1530–1600), French diplomat who introduced tobacco into France

Medical definitions for nicotine

nicotine
[ nĭk′ə-tēn′ ]

n.

A colorless, poisonous alkaloid derived from the tobacco plant and used as an insecticide. It is the substance in tobacco to which smokers can become addicted.

Scientific definitions for nicotine

nicotine
[ nĭk′ə-tēn′ ]

A colorless, poisonous compound occurring naturally in the tobacco plant. It is used in medicine and as an insecticide, and it is the substance in tobacco products to which smokers can become addicted. Nicotine is an alkaloid. Chemical formula: C10H14N2.

Cultural definitions for nicotine

nicotine
[ (nik-uh-teen) ]

A poisonous chemical substance found in the tobacco plant.