a white, crystalline, slightly bitter alkaloid, C18H21NO3, obtained from opium, used in medicine chiefly as an analgesic or sedative and to inhibit coughing.
Also co·de·ia[koh-dee-uh]/koʊˈdi ə/, co·de·i·na[koh-dee-ee-nuh]/ˌkoʊ diˈi nə/.
a white crystalline alkaloid prepared mainly from morphine and having a similar but milder action. It is used as an analgesic, an antidiarrhoeal, and to relieve coughing. Formula: C 18 H 21 NO 3
Word Origin for codeine
C19: from Greek kōdeia head of a poppy, from kōos hollow place + -ine ²
alkaloid present in opium, 1838, from French codéine, coined, with chemical suffix -ine (2), from Greek kodeia "poppy head," related to kooz "prison," literally "hollow place;" kodon "bell, mouth of a trumpet;" koilos "hollow," from PIE root *kel- (see cell). Originally codeina; modern form is from 1881.