opium

[ oh-pee-uh m ]
/ ˈoʊ pi əm /

noun

the dried, condensed juice of a poppy, Papaver somniferum, that has a narcotic, soporific, analgesic, and astringent effect and contains morphine, codeine, papaverine, and other alkaloids used in medicine in their isolated or derived forms: a narcotic substance, poisonous in large doses.
anything that causes dullness or inaction or that soothes the mind or emotions.

Origin of opium

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek ópion poppy juice, equivalent to op(ós) sap, juice + -ion diminutive suffix

Example sentences from the Web for opium

British Dictionary definitions for opium

opium
/ (ˈəʊpɪəm) /

noun

the dried juice extracted from the unripe seed capsules of the opium poppy that contains alkaloids such as morphine and codeine: used in medicine as an analgesic
something having a tranquillizing or stupefying effect

Word Origin for opium

C14: from Latin: poppy juice, from Greek opion, diminutive of opos juice of a plant

Medical definitions for opium

opium
[ ōpē-əm ]

n.

A bitter, yellowish-brown, strongly addictive narcotic drug prepared from the dried juice of unripe pods of the opium poppy and containing alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and papaverine. meconium

Scientific definitions for opium

opium
[ ōpē-əm ]

A highly addictive, yellowish-brown drug obtained from the pods of a variety of poppy, from which other drugs, such as morphine, are prepared.

Cultural definitions for opium

opium

A highly addictive drug obtained from the poppy plant. Several other drugs, such as morphine and codeine, are derived from opium.