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
Related Words for opium
heroin, opiate, drug, poppy, morphine, dope, hypnotic, soporific, tar, codeine, papaverineExamples from the Web for opium
Contemporary Examples of opium
And almost no event plays a larger role in that identity as a victim than the Opium Wars.
In 2011, Iran accounted for 80 per cent of the opium seizures in the world, and 30 percent of the heroin seizures.
Before the war, international rules were established to try and curtail the opium trade in the east.
In the end, the big question this book deals with is: What forces led to the prohibition of opium?
I want a dressing gown made from it, to inspire my opium dreams.
Historical Examples of opium
The Opium trade, perhaps beneficially, brought matters to a crisis.
The effect was like that of opium, and gave the user visions.
The Trail BookMary Austin
The purchaser then brought, or sent, an order on board the ship, for the delivery of the opium.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
For every box of opium sold, the mate got a china dollar as a perquisite.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
The opium that I had taken in my potion made my head rather heavy.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
opium
- 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
Word Origin for opium
Word Origin and History for opium
late 14c., from Latin opium, from Greek opion "poppy juice, poppy," diminutive of opos "vegetable juice."
Die Religion ist der Seufzer der bedrängten Kreatur, das Gemüth einer herzlosen Welt, wie sie der Geist geistloser Zustände ist. Sie ist das Opium des Volks. [Karl Marx, "Zur Kritik der Hegel'schen Rechts-Philosophie," in "Deutsch-Französische Jahrbücher," February, 1844]
The British Opium War against China lasted from 1839-42; the name is attested from 1841.
opium
(ō′pē-əm)- A bitter, yellowish-brown, strongly addictive narcotic drug prepared from the dried juice of unripe pods of the opium poppy and containing alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and papaverine.meconium
opium
- A highly addictive, yellowish-brown drug obtained from the pods of a variety of poppy, from which other drugs, such as morphine, are prepared.