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codeine

American  
[koh-deen] / ˈkoʊ din /
Also codeia

noun

Pharmacology.

  1. a white, crystalline, slightly bitter alkaloid, C 18 H 21 NO 3 , obtained from opium, used in medicine chiefly as an analgesic or sedative and to inhibit coughing.

codeine British  
/ ˈkəʊdiːn /

noun

  1. 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

"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
codeine Scientific  
/ kō′dēn′ /

  1. An alkaloid narcotic derived from opium or morphine and used primarily as an analgesic and a cough suppressant. Chemical formula: C 18 H 21 NO 3 .

codeine Cultural  

  1. A drug obtained from opium or morphine that is used as a pain reliever and cough remedy.

Etymology

Origin of codeine

1830–40; < Greek kṓde ( ia ) head, poppy-head + -ine 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As the next 36 hours progressed so did the pain, and intravenous paracetamol and codeine were administered separately.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2025

Even though Horton hadn’t taken cough medicine, health officials say consuming poppy seed products can lead to positive results for morphine, codeine or both due to the sensitivity of the drug tests.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 4, 2024

I cannot prescribe codeine or morphine unless I have a special license that allows me to do it.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2024

The Department of Defense testing regime differentiates between the presence of codeine or morphine from seeds and the same presence from drug use.

From Washington Times • Feb. 22, 2023

The formation of a series of alkaloids under the name of codeines, by the substitution of other organic radicals instead of methyl in the codeine reaction, has already been alluded to.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 415, December 15, 1883 by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.