rhizoverbBeta
DictionarycocaineStimulant drug
noun

cocaine

koh-KAYN/koʊˈkeɪn/

A powerful stimulant drug derived from coca leaves.

The officer holds a sealed evidence bag containing a small amount of cocaine.

A gloved officer holds a sealed transparent evidence bag containing a small amount of white powder, keeping it away from the public. Beside the bag lie two individual smooth oval coca leaves with unbroken edges and a central vein. Leaves are simple single ovals, never palmate, never serrated, never cannabis. All packaging completely blank with no labels or lettering.
Etymology
cocaQuechuacoca plant
+ineFrenchderived chemical substance

The plant name plus a chemical-substance suffix identifies cocaine as an alkaloid obtained from coca leaves. The name thus describes its botanical source.

In context

Steven Levitt1:26
First, I want to explain how and why crack cocaine had such a profound influence on inner-city gangs.
The freakonomics of McDonalds vs. drugs | Steven Levitt
Ethan Nadelmann6:22
The first cocaine prohibition laws, similarly prompted by racist fears of black men sniffing that white powder…
Ethan Nadelmann: Why we need to end the War on Drugs

More examples

  • The lab tests the powder for cocaine.
  • Doctors sometimes use cocaine as a local anesthetic.
  • Treatment helps people recover from cocaine addiction.

Forms

cocaine