opium

noun opi·um \ˈō-pē-əm\

: a powerful illegal drug that is made from a type of poppy

Full Definition of OPIUM

: a bitter brownish addictive narcotic drug that consists of the dried latex obtained from immature seed capsules of the opium poppy

: something having an effect like that of opium

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Origin of OPIUM

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek opion, from diminutive of opos sap

First Known Use: 14th century

OPIUM Defined for Kids

opium

noun opi·um \ˈō-pē-əm\

Definition of OPIUM for Kids

: a bitter brownish narcotic drug that is the dried juice of a poppy of Europe and Asia

Medical Dictionary

opium

noun opi·um \ˈō-pē-əm\

Medical Definition of OPIUM

: a highly addictive drug that consists of the dried milky juice from the seed capsules of the opium poppy obtained from incisions made in the unripe capsules of the plant, that has a brownish yellow color, a faint smell, and a bitter and acrid taste, that is a stimulant narcotic usually producing a feeling of well-being, hallucinations, and drowsiness terminating in coma or death if the dose is excessive, that was formerly used in medicine to soothe pain but is now often replaced by derivative alkaloids (as morphine or codeine) or synthetic substitutes, and that is smoked illicitly as an intoxicant with harmful effects