OPIUM

opium

(noun) an addictive narcotic extracted from seed capsules of the opium poppy

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

opium (countable and uncountable, plural opiums or opia)

(uncountable) A yellow-brown, addictive narcotic drug obtained from the dried juice of unripe pods of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, and containing alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and papaverine.

(countable) Anything that numbs or stupefies.

• "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, . . . It is the opium of the people." - Karl Marx

Synonyms

• See also recreational drug

Source: Wiktionary


O"pi*um, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Chem.)

Definition: The inspissated juice of the Papaver somniferum, or white poppy.

Note: Opium is obtained from incisions made in the capsules of the plant, and the best flows from the first incision. It is imported into Europe and America chiefly from the Levant, and large quantities are sent to China from India, Persia, and other countries. It is of a brownish yellow color, has a faint smell, and bitter and acrid taste. It is a stimulant narcotic poison, which may produce hallicinations, profound sleep, or death. It is much used in medicine to soothe pain and inflammation, and is smoked as an intoxicant with baneful effects. Opium joint, a low resort of opium smokers. [Slang]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

23 December 2024

QUANDONG

(noun) Australian tree having hard white timber and glossy green leaves with white flowers followed by one-seeded glossy blue fruit


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest iced coffee is 14,228.1 liters and was created by Caffé Bene (South Korea), in Yangju, South Korea, on 17 July 2014. They poured iced black Americano on the giant cup that measured 3.3 meters tall and 2.62 meters wide.

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