narcotic
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.a strong drug that reduces pain and makes you sleepy, often one that is illegal or highly controlled.
n.a substance, typically an opioid, that induces sleep and alleviates pain. Often used in legal contexts to refer to illicit substances.
Simple“The doctor prescribed a strong narcotic to help the patient manage the pain after surgery.”
In context“Law enforcement officials seized a significant shipment of narcotics that was being smuggled across the border in a commercial vehicle.”
UsageIn legal contexts, the term often refers specifically to illegal drugs, whereas in medicine it refers to pain-relieving drugs that cause sleepiness.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.describing something that makes you feel sleepy or lessens pain.
adj.having the property of inducing narcosis, sleep, or insensibility.
Simple“The plant has a narcotic effect that can make people feel very drowsy.”
In context“The chemical compound was found to have potent narcotic properties, leading the researchers to suggest its use as a sedative.”
SynonymssoporificnumbingAntonyms
From Middle English narcotyk, from Middle French narcotique (from Old French narcotique, noun use of adjective) and directly from Medieval Latin narcōticum, from Ancient Greek ναρκωτῐκόν (narkōtĭkón), neuter of ναρκωτῐκός (narkōtĭkós), from Ancient Greek ναρκόω (narkóō, “to benumb”), from νάρκη (nárkē, “numbness, torpor”).
From Middle French narcotique or German narkotisch and directly from Medieval Latin narcōticus, from Ancient Greek ναρκωτῐκός (narkōtĭkós).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.