noun / adjective
opiate
OH-pee-ut/ˈəʊpiət/
A drug derived from opium.
Morphine is an opiate used to treat severe pain.
Etymology
An opiate was originally a medicine containing opium, the concentrated juice of the poppy. Opium’s use to relieve pain and induce sleep explains the drug’s medical association.
In context
morphine is actually a naturally occurring opiate which is produced from the Opium poppy plant
More examples
- Codeine is another commonly prescribed opiate.
- The pharmacist reviews her opiate prescription for possible drug interactions.
- Opiates can cause drowsiness and slow breathing.
Forms
opiate · opiates
Similar words
- opioid
- A broader term that also includes synthetic opium-like drugs.
- narcotic
- A less precise term for drugs that dull pain or awareness.