nicotinic

[nik-uh-tin-ik, -tee-nik]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or containing nicotine.

2. related to or imitating the action of nicotine on neurons, especially in blocking the cholinergic receptors of the autonomic ganglia.

Other Word Forms

• nonnicotinic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nicotinic¹

First recorded in 1870–75; nicotine + -ic

Example Sentences

What we know now is that nicotine is a chemical compound that acts on receptors in the brain called nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, or nAChRs.

From Slate

“If you’re not working at the optimal level, then stimulating nicotinic receptors will bring you up to here or closer to here.”

From Slate

“If you’re right here at the top of the curve, functioning at a high level, if I flog your nicotinic receptors, you’re actually going to have a decline in performance,” he adds.

From Slate

“We know that nicotine receptors are involved particularly in attention—so the ability to focus and maintain attention, all of that seems to have an important role for nicotinic signaling,” says Newhouse.

From Slate

Niacin, also called Vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid, is vital for their metabolism.

From Reuters