codeine

noun

co·​deine ˈkō-ˌdēn 

: a morphine derivative C₁₈H₂₁NO₃·H₂O that is found in opium, is weaker in action than morphine, and is used especially as an analgesic and antitussive

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Heroin, morphine, opium, fentanyl, oxycodone (sold under brand names, including OxyContin), hydrocodone (brands include Vicodin), codeine and methadone are all examples of opioids. —Robert Hart, Forbes, 3 May 2023

Yet as many as 10 percent of patients have genetic variants that produce too little of the enzyme, so almost no codeine gets turned into morphine. —Dina Fine Maron, Scientific American, 17 May 2016

The Pentagon issued a warning to its active duty military personnel in February, warning them some varieties of poppy seeds could have higher codeine contamination. —Kaitlyn Kanzler, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2023

For them, a little codeine can quickly turn into too much morphine, which can lead to a fatal overdose. —Dina Fine Maron, Scientific American, 17 May 2016

Substances like codeine, taken to alleviate pain or coughing, Xanax, used to treat anxiety, Ambien, a sleep aid, and buprenorphine, a narcotic used to treat opioid addiction, can be prescribed over telehealth for an initial 30-day dose. —Amanda Seitz And Lindsay Whitehurst, al, 25 Feb. 2023

Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Gilbert Cisneros Jr. reminded personnel in a memo posted Tuesday that natural poppy seeds can be contaminated with morphine and codeine, which can be detected in drug tests if the seeds are ingested. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2023

For more than a decade, Future has been a troubadour of toxicity and the artist most responsible for how rappers sound when delivering odes to the conspicuous consumption of codeine, couture and companions. —Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2023

Common medication names are morphine and codeine. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

French codéine, from Greek kōdeia poppyhead

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

codeine

noun

co·​deine ˈkō-ˌdēn 

ˈkōd-ē-ən

: a drug that is obtained from opium, is weaker than morphine, and is used as a pain reliever and in cough remedies

Medical Definition

codeine

noun

co·​deine ˈkō-ˌdēn, ˈkōd-ē-ən 

: a morphine derivative that is found in opium, is weaker in action than morphine, and is used chiefly in the form of its sulfate (C₁₈H₂₁NO₃)₂·H₂SO₄ or phosphate C₁₈H₂₁NO₃·H₃PO₄ especially as a pain reliever and cough suppressant

Although codeine is potentially addicting, it rarely causes physical dependence when taken orally for a short time.

—Consumer Reports