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¹narcotic

noun nar·cot·ic \när-ˈkä-tik\

: a drug (such as cocaine, heroin, or marijuana) that affects the brain and that is usually dangerous and illegal

medical : a drug that is given to people in small amounts to make them sleep or feel less pain

Full Definition of NARCOTIC

a : a drug (as opium or morphine) that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions

b : a drug (as marijuana or LSD) subject to restriction similar to that of addictive narcotics whether physiologically addictive and narcotic or not

: something that soothes, relieves, or lulls

See narcotic defined for English-language learners

See narcotic defined for kids

Origin of NARCOTIC

Middle English narkotik, from Middle French narcotique, from narcotique, adjective, from Medieval Latin narcoticus, from Greek narkōtikos, from narkoun to benumb, from narkē numbness — more at snare

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to NARCOTIC

Synonyms: anesthetic, anodyne, opiate

Other Drug/Tobacco Terms

controlled, flake, herb, key, sodden

Rhymes with NARCOTIC

aquatic, biotic, chaotic, cirrhotic, demotic, despotic, ergotic, erotic, exotic, hypnotic, kyphotic, leprotic, lordotic, meiotic, mitotic, necrotic, neurotic, Nilotic, osmotic, psychotic, quixotic, robotic, sclerotic, thrombotic, zygotic

²narcotic

adjective

Definition of NARCOTIC

a : having the properties of or yielding a narcotic

b : inducing mental lethargy

: of, induced by, or concerned with narcotics

: of, involving, or intended for narcotic addicts

— nar·cot·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

First Known Use of NARCOTIC

1526

Related to NARCOTIC

Synonyms: calming, comforting, dreamy, lulling, soothing, pacifying, quieting, relaxing, sedative, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing)

Antonyms: stimulant

Other Drug/Tobacco Terms

controlled, flake, herb, key, sodden

Rhymes with NARCOTIC

aquatic, erotic, exotic, hypnotic, neurotic, psychotic, sclerotic

NARCOTICS Defined for Kids

¹narcotic

noun nar·cot·ic \när-ˈkä-tik\

Definition of NARCOTIC for Kids

: a drug that in small doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and brings on sleep but in larger doses has dangerous effects, that includes some (as morphine) that are used in medicine and others (as heroin) that are used illegally, and that often causes addiction