freebase

verb

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free·base | \ ˈfrē-ˌbās

freebased; freebasing; freebases

Definition of freebase

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to prepare or use freebase cocaine

transitive verb

: to prepare or use (cocaine) as freebase

freebase

noun

Definition of freebase (Entry 2 of 2)

: a purified solid form of cocaine (such as crack) that is obtained by treating the powdered hydrochloride of cocaine with an alkaloid base (such as sodium bicarbonate) and that can be smoked or heated to produce vapors for inhalation specifically : a form derived from treatment of the hydrochloride of cocaine with ammonia or similar alkaloid solution followed by extraction with a solvent (such as ether)

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Examples of freebase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The maladjusted lothario also has many a dalliance with a particular strain of misogyny: the cutting and manipulative digs at past lovers that some of the rapper’s fans rush to freebase. — Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, "The Cathartic Symphony of Future’s Beast Mode 2," 6 July 2018 She was taught to freebase cocaine in the late 1980s by her brother Michael. — Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, "Production of a Lifetime: Whitney Houston and Clive Davis," 30 Sep. 2017 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun For much of the next 15 years, Crosby anesthetized himself with heroin and freebase cocaine, doing significant harm to both his musical relationships and his relationship to music. — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, "The Most Interesting Man in Rock: How David Crosby Survived Everything — and Lived to Sing About It," 24 July 2019 Big Tobacco discovered decades ago that freebase nicotine makes puffing on a cigar much harsher than inhaling cigarette smoke. — Rachel Becker, The Verge, "Juul’s nicotine salts are dominating the market — and other companies want in," 21 Nov. 2018 Juul uses nicotine salts, which are more potent than the freebase nicotine in standard e-cigarettes. — The Economist, "Juuling is popular—perhaps too much so," 24 May 2018 In Juul, these nicotine salts are absorbed into the body at almost the same speed as nicotine in regular cigarettes, a speed that comes from the use of freebase nicotine. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "Juul, the vape device teens are getting hooked on, explained," 18 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'freebase.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Freebase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freebase. Accessed 16 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for freebase

freebase

noun

English Language Learners Definition of freebase

: a form of cocaine that can be smoked

See the full definition for freebase in the English Language Learners Dictionary

freebase

verb

free·base | \ ˈfrē-ˌbās

freebased; freebasing

Medical Definition of freebase

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to prepare or use freebase cocaine

transitive verb

: to prepare or use (cocaine) as freebase

freebase

noun

Medical Definition of freebase (Entry 2 of 2)

: purified solid cocaine (as crack) in a form that is obtained by treating the powdered hydrochloride of cocaine with an alkaloid base (as sodium bicarbonate) and that can be smoked or heated to produce vapors for inhalation specifically : cocaine derived from its hydrochloride by treatment with ammonia or a similar alkaloid solution followed by extraction with a solvent (as ether)