ENGLISH
REFERENCE

morphine

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˈmɔɹfin// UK //mˈɔːfiːn// mor·phine

n. a very strong medicine that doctors use to stop severe pain. It is usually given in hospitals after a serious injury or surgery.

n. a potent analgesic drug derived from opium, used primarily for the relief of severe or chronic pain. It acts directly on the central nervous system to decrease the perception of pain.


SIMPLE

The doctor gave him morphine to help with the pain.

CONTEXTUAL

After the major operation, the patient was monitored closely while receiving morphine through an intravenous drip.

COMPLEX

While morphine remains the gold standard for treating acute post-operative pain, its administration requires careful clinical supervision due to the risk of respiratory depression and potential for physical dependence.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from French morphine or German Morphin, from Ancient Greek Μορφεύς (Morpheús, “the god and personification of dreams”).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the drug generally; can be countable when referring to specific doses or types in a medical context.

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