opium

[ oh-pee-uhm ]

/ ˈoʊ pi əm /

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noun

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.

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Origin of opium

1350–1400; Middle English <Latin <Greek ópion poppy juice, equivalent to op(ós) sap, juice + -ion diminutive suffix

Words nearby opium

Opisthorchis, Opisthorchis felineus, Opisthorchis viverrini, opisthosoma, opisthotonos, opium, opium den, opiumism, opium poppy, Opium War, Opium Wars

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

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|Time
It turns out, Pollan learns, that poppies are for sale in standard seed catalogues, and opium goo practically harvests itself.
A homegrown garden of mind-altering substances|David Herzberg|July 23, 2021|Washington Post
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.
James Sassoon, the golden era dealmaker|Annabelle Timsit|May 18, 2021|Quartz
And almost no event plays a larger role in that identity as a victim than the Opium Wars.
We're Still Fighting the Opium Wars|William O’Connor|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
In 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|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|DAILY BEAST
Both vaporiums I visited included areas to hang out it, like the louche opium dens of old.
This Is Your E-Cigarette on Drugs|Daniel Genis|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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 Rohmer
Everything except opium is to be had at Kazmah's, and nothing except opium interests me.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
We here saw an opium-eater, lying stretched out upon a mat on the floor.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
It 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 Pfeiffer
Upon a little Moorish table beside a deep, low settee lay a complete opium-smoking outfit.
Dope|Sax Rohmer

British Dictionary definitions for opium

opium

/ (ˈəʊpɪəm) /

noun

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

C14: from Latin: poppy juice, from Greek opion, diminutive of opos juice of a plant

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

Medical definitions for opium

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

Scientific definitions for opium

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.

Cultural definitions for opium

opium

A highly addictive drug obtained from the poppy plant. Several other drugs, such as morphine and codeine, are derived from opium.

opium

Origin of opium

Words nearby opium

Words related to opium

How to use opium in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for opium

Word Origin for opium

Medical definitions for opium

Scientific definitions for opium

Cultural definitions for opium