First Known Use: 1898
Dictionary
heroin
heroin
noun her·o·in \ˈher-É™-wÉ™n, ˈhe-rÉ™-\
: a powerful illegal drug that is made from morphine
Full Definition of HEROIN
:Â a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C21H23NO5 that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the United States but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects
— her·o·in·ism \-wÉ™-ËŒni-zÉ™m\ noun
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Origin of HEROIN
from Heroin, a trademark
heroin
noun her·o·in \ˈher-É™-wÉ™n\ (Medical Dictionary)
Medical Definition of HEROIN
: a strongly physiologically addictive narcotic C21H23NO5 that is made by acetylation of but is more potent than morphine and that is prohibited for medical use in the United States but is used illicitly for its euphoric effects—called also acetomorphine, diacetylmorphine, diamorphine
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