nicotine

play

noun nic·o·tine \ˈni-kə-ˌtēn\

Definition of nicotine

: a poisonous alkaloid C₁₀H₁₄N₂ that is the chief active principle of tobacco and is used as an insecticide

See nicotine defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of nicotine from the Web

Some, like nicotine, even resist treatment, polluting waterways and potentially contaminating water used for consumption, the study notes.

— jacopo prisco, CNN, "Study reveals high environmental cost of tobacco", 31 May 2017
L'Hoir's daughter was diagnosed with nicotine poisoning and received treatment before being released that evening, the CBC reported.

— ajc homepage, ajc, "9-year-old taken to hospital after mistaking 'Unicorn Milk' vape juice for candy", 31 May 2017
Some Lincolnshire officials have concerns with raising the minimum age for tobacco and nicotine sales to 21 after recently being asked by Lake County health officials to take up the cause within their own borders.

— ronnie wachter, chicagotribune.com, "Lincolnshire weighing whether to raise smoking age to 21", 26 May 2017
The smoke released by heat-not-burn cigarettes had 84 percent of the nicotine found in traditional cigarettes, according to the results published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

— Fox News, "Call for restrictions on 'heat-not-burn' cigarettes over cancer-causing chemicals", 26 May 2017
A conclusive study at Stanford University proved nicotine to be beneficial to pilots.

— howard cohen, miamiherald, "Eastern pilot who flew President Carter — his wife’s former beau, dies at 96", 26 May 2017
When still air settles over Shanghai, the sky turns thick and white, the horizon the color of a nicotine stain.

— douglas mcgray, WIRED, "Pop-Up Cities: China Builds a Bright Green Metropolis", 24 Apr. 2007

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

Origin and Etymology of nicotine

French, from New Latin nicotiana

NEW!

First Known Use: 1817

See Words from the same year

NICOTINE Defined for English Language Learners

nicotine

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noun

Definition of nicotine for English Language Learners

: a poisonous substance in tobacco that makes it difficult for people to stop smoking cigarettes

NICOTINE Defined for Kids

nicotine

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noun nic·o·tine \ˈni-kə-ˌtēn\

Definition of nicotine for Students

: a poisonous substance found in small amounts in tobacco

Medical Dictionary

nicotine

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noun nic·o·tine \ˈnik-ə-ˌtēn\

Medical Definition of nicotine

: a poisonous alkaloid C₁₀H₁₄N₂ that is the chief active principle of tobacco and that is used as an insecticide and is sometimes used in smoking cessation aids ◆Trademarks for nicotine include Nicoderm, Nicorette, and Nicotrol.

Biographical Note for nicotine

Nicot

\nē-kō\play ,

Jean

(1530?–1600), French diplomat. While French ambassador to Portugal, Nicot introduced tobacco to France by sending tobacco seeds as a gift to the French court in 1560. Linnaeus named the plant genus Nicotiana in his honor in 1753.