-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
opium poppy
noun
: an annual Eurasian poppy (Papaver somniferum) cultivated since antiquity as the source of opium, for its edible oily seeds, or for its showy flowers
Examples of opium poppy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That shouldn’t have been surprising — poppy seeds, like the ones in Horton’s salad, are derived from the opium poppy plant and contain codeine.
—Shoshana Walter, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2024
Ancient Egyptians soothed their wounds with aloe-vera gel; morphine and codeine came from the opium poppy; Ozempic was inspired by a peptide in lizard venom.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024
Mandrake, hellebore, hyoscyamus, opium poppy, ergot fungi, peyote, cannabis.
—Martha McPhee, Vogue, 24 July 2024
For decades, farmers in southern Afghanistan relied on opium poppies to make a living in their parched desert landscape.
—Carolyn Van Houten, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for opium poppy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'opium poppy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1849, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near opium poppy
Cite this Entry
“Opium poppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opium%20poppy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
opium poppy
noun
: an annual Eurasian poppy grown for opium, for its edible oily seeds, and for its showy flowers
Medical Definition
opium poppy
noun
: an annual Eurasian poppy (Papaver somniferum) cultivated since antiquity as the source of opium, for its edible oily seeds, or for its showy flowers
More from Merriam-Webster on opium poppy
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about opium poppy
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share