Main Entry:

opi·um

Pronunciation:

\ˈō-pē-əm\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek opion, from diminutive of opos sap

Date:

14th century

1 : a bitter brownish addictive narcotic drug that consists of the dried latex obtained from immature seed capsules of the opium poppy 2 : something having an effect like that of opium