methadone

[meth-uh-dohn]

noun Pharmacology.

a synthetic narcotic, C21H28ClNO, similar to morphine but effective orally, used in the relief of pain and as a heroin substitute in the treatment of heroin addiction.

Also meth·a·don

[meth-uh-don] /ˈmɛθ əˌdɒn/.

Origin of methadone

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50; meth(yl) + a(mino) + d(iphenyl) + (heptan)one

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for methadone

Contemporary Examples of methadone

The three main types of medication for opiate withdrawal and recovery are methadone, buphrenorphine, and naltrexone.
Is Weed the Secret to Beating Opiate Addiction?
Tracey Mitchell, Abby Haglage
September 5, 2014
The research also showed that once the patients stabilized on methadone, there was a decrease in their cannabis use.
Is Weed the Secret to Beating Opiate Addiction?
Tracey Mitchell, Abby Haglage
September 5, 2014
Jay died of a methadone overdose three years after his suicide attempt.
The Stacks: The Judas Priest Teen Suicide Trial
Ivan Solotaroff
June 28, 2014
I went through a methadone program and it helped, but then you get hooked on that.
The Stacks: The Neville Brothers Stake Their Claim as Bards of the Bayou
John Ed Bradley
April 27, 2014
Francisco insisted at the meeting that Shawn herself must have taken the methadone.
The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis
Richard Ben Cramer
January 11, 2014

British Dictionary definitions for methadone

methadone

methadon (ˈmɛθəˌdɒn)

noun

a narcotic analgesic drug similar to morphine, used to treat opiate addiction. Formula: C 21 H 27 NO

Word Origin for methadone

C20: from (di) meth (yl) + a (mino) + d (iphenyl) + -one

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

Word Origin and History for methadone

1947, generic designation for 6-dimethylamino-4, 4-diphenyl-3-heptanone. For origins of the syllables, see methyl + amino + di- + -one.

methadone in Culture

methadone

[(meth-uh-dohn)]

An analgesic that is sometimes used in the treatment of drug addiction.