noun
morphine
MOR-feen/ˈmɔːrfiːn/
A strong opioid drug used to relieve severe pain.
This vial contains morphine, a medicine used to relieve severe pain.
Etymology
Morphine was named for Morpheus, the god of dreams, because of its sleep-inducing properties. The name thus highlights a different effect of the opium-derived drug from its use in relieving pain.
In context
morphine is used as a medicine to manage pain but here's the problem it's also highly addictive
More examples
- The doctor prescribes morphine for her severe pain.
- He receives morphine through an IV after surgery.
- Morphine can cause drowsiness and slow breathing.
Forms
morphine
Similar words
- opioid
- Names the broader drug class to which morphine belongs.
- painkiller
- A broader term that also includes nonopioid pain medicines.