narcotic

¹nar·cot·ic

noun \när-ˈkä-tik\

Definition of NARCOTIC

1

a : a drug (as opium or morphine) that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions b : a drug (as marijuana or LSD) subject to restriction similar to that of addictive narcotics whether physiologically addictive and narcotic or not

2

: something that soothes, relieves, or lulls

Examples of NARCOTIC

1. <an irradicable sense of self-righteousness seems to be the narcotic that inures these religious fanatics from any realization of the harm they have done>

Origin of NARCOTIC

Middle English narkotik, from Middle French narcotique, from narcotique, adjective, from Medieval Latin narcoticus, from Greek narkōtikos, from narkoun to benumb, from narkē numbness — more at snare

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to NARCOTIC

Synonyms: anesthetic, anodyne, opiate

Related Words: security blanket; pacifier, palliative; hypnotic, sedative, soporific, tranquilizer (also tranquillizer)

[+]more[-]hide

Other Drug/Tobacco Terms

controlled, flake, herb, key, sodden

Rhymes with NARCOTIC

aquatic, biotic, chaotic, cirrhotic, demotic, despotic, ergotic, erotic, exotic, hypnotic, kyphotic, leprotic, lordotic, meiotic, mitotic, necrotic, neurotic, Nilotic, osmotic, psychotic, quixotic, robotic, sclerotic, thrombotic, zygotic