narcotic

[ nahr-kot-ik ]

noun

1. any of a class of substances that blunt the senses, as opium, morphine, belladonna, marijuana, and alcohol, that in large quantities produce euphoria, stupor, or coma, that when used constantly can cause habituation or addiction, and that are used in medicine to relieve pain, cause sedation, and induce sleep.
2. any controlled substance, whether sedative or stimulant:

   Airports need security solutions that can effectively detect concealed explosives and narcotics.

3. anything that exercises a soothing or numbing effect or influence:

   Television is a narcotic for many people.

adjective

1. of or having the power to produce narcosis, as a drug.
2. pertaining to or of the nature of narcosis.
3. of or relating to narcotics or their use.
4. used by, or in the treatment of, narcotic addicts.

narcotic

/ nɑːˈkɒtɪk /

noun

1. any of a group of drugs, such as heroin, morphine, and pethidine, that produce numbness and stupor. They are used medicinally to relieve pain but are sometimes also taken for their pleasant effects; prolonged use may cause addiction
2. anything that relieves pain or induces sleep, mental numbness, etc
3. any illegal drug

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating narcotics
2. of or relating to narcotics addicts or users
3. of or relating to narcosis

narcotic

/ när-kŏt′ĭk /

1. Any of a group of highly addictive analgesic drugs derived from opium or opiumlike compounds. Narcotics can cause drowsiness and significant alterations of mood and behavior.

Derived Forms

• narˈcotically, adverb

Other Words From

• nar·cot·i·cal·ly adverb
• an·ti·nar·cot·ic adjective noun
• an·ti·nar·cot·ics adjective
• non·nar·cot·ic adjective noun
• pre·nar·cot·ic adjective
• pseu·do·nar·cot·ic adjective noun
• sem·i·nar·cot·ic adjective
• sub·nar·cot·ic adjective
• un·nar·cot·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of narcotic¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun narcotic, narkotik, Medieval Latin narcōticum, from Greek narkōtikón, noun use of neuter of narkōtikós “benumbing,” equivalent to narkō- (stem of narkoûn “to benumb” + -tikos adjective suffix; narco-, -tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of narcotic¹

C14: via Medieval Latin from Greek narkōtikós, from narkoūn to render numb, from narkē numbness

Example Sentences

In June 2014, narcotics Detective Thomas Ramirez and his partner stopped a car in Queens for a traffic infraction.

From ProPublica

Other drugs such as alcohol can sometimes be called narcotics as well.

From Science News For Students

That’s because the word “narcotic” once meant any drug that was forbidden.

From Science News For Students

In the United States, for example, drugs such as cocaine used to be called narcotics.

From Science News For Students

Matthew O’Deane started off as a National City police officer in 1992, then became a San Diego gang and narcotics investigator, a gang prosecution unit investigator, and now teaches upcoming police officers.

From Voice of San Diego

It remains a Schedule I narcotic to this day, considered as dangerous and addictive by the federal government as heroin and MDMA.

From The Daily Beast

The Chinese government banned qat earlier this year, and classified the plant as a dangerous narcotic.

From The Daily Beast

Though I prescribe hardly any narcotic pain medications, most ADHD medications are also Schedule II.

From The Daily Beast

Narcotic pain medications, used judiciously, can be an important tool in treating patients in legitimate need.

From The Daily Beast

Those lines are also great places to score Xanax and crack, both drugs that are not affected by narcotic antagonists.

From The Daily Beast

Botanists have enumerated between forty and fifty varieties of the tobacco plant who class them all among the narcotic poisons.

From Project Gutenberg

Some writers have concluded that the plant served as a narcotic in some parts of Asia.

From Project Gutenberg

Narcotic poisons are neutralized by vinegar:—Narcotics … torpor … strong wine … sour wine … vinegar.

From Project Gutenberg

Will not one puff of that narcotic breath drowse deep all watching dragons, and make for him the sleeping beauties of his will?

From Project Gutenberg

"You will promise me not to use the narcotic buttons," he said, before sitting down.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• calming