amphetamine

[ am-fet-uh-meen, -min ]

/ æmˈfɛt əˌmin, -mɪn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR amphetamine ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Pharmacology.

a racemic drug, C9H13N, that stimulates the central nervous system: used chiefly to lift the mood in depressive states and to control the appetite in cases of obesity.

Nearby words

ampere-hour, ampere-turn, amperometric, amperometric titration, ampersand, amphetamine, amphi-, amphiaraus, amphiarthrosis, amphiaster, amphibaric

Origin of amphetamine

First recorded in 1935–40; a(lpha) + m(ethyl) + ph(enyl) + et(hyl) + amine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for amphetamine

Chemically speaking, Molly is an amphetamine with a twist of phenethylamine (a hallucinogen).
Molly: The Dangerous Drug That’s Too Good to Quit|Abby Haglage|September 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When I was around 14-ish, I was put on amphetamine therapy for ADHD.
'My Drug Story,' Entry 1|Justin Green|January 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The chemicals in 'bath salts' seem to be cousins of the amphetamine agents that debuted as crystal meth.
What 'Bath Salts' Will—and Won’t—Make You Do|Kent Sepkowitz|June 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
How come in the amphetamine rush of the 1980s nobody worried about the sanctity of baseball?
Clemens Prosecutors Strike Out|Buzz Bissinger|July 15, 2011|DAILY BEAST

An amphetamine injection creates a sudden increase in blood pressure that can result in stroke, very high fever, or heart failure.
What Works: Schools Without Drugs|United States Department of Education

British Dictionary definitions for amphetamine

amphetamine

/ (æmˈfɛtəˌmiːn, -mɪn) /

noun

a synthetic colourless volatile liquid used medicinally as the white crystalline sulphate, mainly for its stimulant action on the central nervous system, although it also stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. It can have unpleasant or dangerous side effects and drug dependence can occur; 1-phenyl-2-aminopropane. Formula: C 6 H 5 CH 2 CH(NH 2)CH 3

Word Origin for amphetamine

C20: from a (lpha) + m (ethyl) + ph (enyl) + et (hyl) + -amine

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for amphetamine

amphetamine

[ ăm-fĕt′ə-mēn′, -mĭn ]

n.

A colorless, volatile liquid used as a central nervous system stimulant in the treatment of certain neurological conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy, and abused as a stimulant.

A chemical derivative of amphetamine, such as dextroamphetamine sulfate.

Science definitions for amphetamine

amphetamine

[ ăm-fĕt′ə-mēn′ ]

Any of a group of drugs that stimulate the central nervous system, resulting in elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and other metabolic functions. Amphetamines are used in the treatment of certain neurological conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. The drugs are highly addictive and are sometimes abused.

Culture definitions for amphetamine

amphetamine

A drug that stimulates the central nervous system and is used to treat certain conditions, such as attention deficit disorder, depression, and narcolepsy.