nicotine

American  

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

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, oily, water-soluble, highly toxic, liquid alkaloid, C 1 0 H 1 4 N 2 , found in tobacco and valued as an insecticide.

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nicotine British  

/ ˈnɪkəˌtiːn, ˌnɪkəˈtɪnɪk /

noun

1. 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

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nicotine Scientific  

/ nĭk′ə-tēn′ /

1. 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: C ₁₀ H ₁₄ N ₂ .

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nicotine Cultural  

1. A poisonous chemical substance found in the tobacco plant.

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Other Word Forms

• nicotined adjective
• nicotineless adjective
• nicotinic adjective

Etymology

Origin of nicotine

From French, dating back to 1810–20; nicotiana, -ine ²

Example Sentences

The court has applied this legal principle for decades, including in 2000 to strike down the Food and Drug Administration’s move to regulate nicotine as a “drug.”

From The Wall Street Journal

People have relied on these same compounds for generations, using them in pain relief, medical treatments, and everyday products including caffeine and nicotine.

From Science Daily

He often describes the cognitive effects of nicotine as functioning along a U-shaped curve.

From Salon

The newsletter published on Dec. 31 incorrectly said that Ramp and Anduril also have vending machines filled with nicotine pouches at their offices.

From The Wall Street Journal

He added that the unequal treatment of adults and children "must end" by tackling obesity, protecting mental health, reducing exposure to nicotine and boosting vaccinations in children.

From BBC