opium

[oh-pee-uh m] /ˈoʊ pi əm/
noun
1.
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.
2.
anything that causes dullness or inaction or that soothes the mind or emotions.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek ópion poppy juice, equivalent to op(ós) sap, juice + -ion diminutive suffix
Examples from the web for opium
  • The effect of habitual opium taking on health and longevity, has been a subject of legal consideration.
  • In fact, many warlords are focusing on so-called import-exports, including opium trafficking.
  • No, this isn't another attempt to fight corruption and opium with agricultural alternatives.
  • opium has the chill factor of pop, but a total body high.
  • She was an opium addict who had numerous affairs and gambled away a lot of her family fortune.
  • opium poppies flourish, despite an empty official ban.
  • Also, the thought of there being an opium pipe in the boardroom, is a frightening thought.
  • Falling opium prices, due to a glut on the market, mean that wheat is now a viable alternative.
  • Formerly communist countries are also getting hooked again on the opium of the people.
  • The spirit of the world, the great calm presence of the creator, comes not forth to the sorceries of opium or of wine.
British Dictionary definitions for opium

opium

/ˈəʊpɪəm/
noun
1.
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
2.
something having a tranquillizing or stupefying effect
Word Origin
C14: from Latin: poppy juice, from Greek opion, diminutive of opos juice of a plant
Word Origin and History for opium
n.

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 in Medicine

opium o·pi·um (ō'pē-əm)
n.
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. Also called meconium.

opium in Science
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.
opium in Culture

opium definition


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