opium
the dried, condensed juice of a poppy, Papaver somniferum, that has a narcotic, soporific, analgesic, and astringent effect and contains morphine, codeine, papaverine, and other alkaloids used in medicine in their isolated or derived forms: a narcotic substance, poisonous in large doses.
anything that causes dullness or inaction or that soothes the mind or emotions.
Origin of opium
1Words Nearby opium
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use opium in a sentence
They tracked down opium and marijuana fields, called in helicopters, sprayed the crops with powerful herbicides, and then rounded up the suspected growers.
New Documents Reveal the Bloody Origins of America's Long War on Drugs | Benjamin T. Smith | August 24, 2021 | TimeThe book has three sections — opium, Caffeine and Mescaline — each of which ties a scientific and historical exploration of a plant-drug to a small but gripping personal drama.
It turns out, Pollan learns, that poppies are for sale in standard seed catalogues, and opium goo practically harvests itself.
He is a member of the Sassoon family, nicknamed the “Rothschilds of the East” for their extensive investments across Asia—including the import and export of opium, which sparked two wars between Britain and China in the 1800s.
And almost no event plays a larger role in that identity as a victim than the opium Wars.
A hit of good opium these days “costs a lot of money, about $5 (150,000 rials),” says Bahari.
As Iran’s Marijuana Trade Thrives, Is It Becoming a Nation of Stoners? | IranWire | August 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn 2011, Iran accounted for 80 per cent of the opium seizures in the world, and 30 percent of the heroin seizures.
As Iran’s Marijuana Trade Thrives, Is It Becoming a Nation of Stoners? | IranWire | August 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“Traditionally, older Iranian men have smoked opium in their poetry readings and backgammon gatherings,” says Bahari.
As Iran’s Marijuana Trade Thrives, Is It Becoming a Nation of Stoners? | IranWire | August 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBoth vaporiums I visited included areas to hang out it, like the louche opium dens of old.
Alighting from Pyne's car at the door, they went up to the flat of the organizer of the opium party—Mr. Cyrus Kilfane.
Dope | Sax RohmerEverything except opium is to be had at Kazmah's, and nothing except opium interests me.
Dope | Sax RohmerWe here saw an opium-eater, lying stretched out upon a mat on the floor.
A Woman's Journey Round the World | Ida PfeifferIt is said that some of the Chinese opium smokers consume from twenty to thirty grains a-day.
A Woman's Journey Round the World | Ida PfeifferUpon a little Moorish table beside a deep, low settee lay a complete opium-smoking outfit.
Dope | Sax Rohmer
British Dictionary definitions for opium
/ (ˈəʊpɪəm) /
the dried juice extracted from the unripe seed capsules of the opium poppy that contains alkaloids such as morphine and codeine: used in medicine as an analgesic
something having a tranquillizing or stupefying effect
Origin of opium
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for opium
[ ō′pē-əm ]
A highly addictive, yellowish-brown drug obtained from the pods of a variety of poppy, from which other drugs, such as morphine, are prepared.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for opium
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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