narcotic

CEFRC1

/nɑːˈkɒtɪk/

noun · adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A drug that reduces pain and can cause sleep or addiction.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Relating to drugs that reduce pain or cause sleep.

Examples

  • This substance is a narcotic if inhaled.

  • The gray sky is narcotic.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • [nɑɹˈkɑɾɪk]

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Any type of numbing or soothing drug.

  2. Of, or relating to narcotics.

  3. Any substance or drug that reduces pain, induces sleep and may alter mood or behaviour; in some contexts, especially in reference to the opiates-and-opioids class, especially in reference to illegal drugs, and often both.

More examples

In context

  • It is a narcotic.

  • In 2016, the CDC established guidelines for prescribing narcotics for chronic pain.

  • "Real San Juan Colorado," he said. "Excitable people like you are the better for narcotics. Heavens! don't bite it! Cut - and cut with reverence!"

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The patient received a powerful blank to relieve pain after the operation.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English narcotyk, from Middle French narcotique (from Old French narcotique, noun use of adjective) and directly from Medieval Latin narcōticum, from Ancient Greek ναρκωτῐκόν (narkōtĭkón), neuter of ναρκωτῐκός (narkōtĭkós), from Ancient Greek ναρκόω (narkóō, “to benumb”), from νάρκη (nárkē, “numbness, torpor”).