noun
catnip
KAT-nihp
Catnip (noun) means a minty plant (Nepeta cataria) whose scent triggers playful, euphoric behavior in cats. Example: “We sprinkled catnip on the new scratching post to get her interested.”
noun
1
A minty plant (Nepeta cataria) whose scent triggers playful, euphoric behavior in cats.
"We sprinkled catnip on the new scratching post to get her interested."
2
Something irresistibly appealing or exciting.
"A juicy scandal like that is catnip for tabloid reporters."
How to use catnip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe plant that makes cats go wild, or figuratively, anything people find impossible to resist.
Common pairings
catnip for cats
political catnip
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Word forms
- Plural
- catnips
Fill the gap
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We sprinkled _____ on the new scratching post to get her interested.
Etymology
From cat + nip (an old word related to mint), reflecting the plant's powerful effect on cats.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “catnip” mean?
The word “catnip” means a minty plant (Nepeta cataria) whose scent triggers playful, euphoric behavior in cats. In plain terms, the plant that makes cats go wild, or figuratively, anything people find impossible to resist.
How do you pronounce “catnip”?
“Catnip” is pronounced KAT-nihp (/ˈkætnɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “catnip” in a sentence?
Here is “catnip” used in a sentence: “We sprinkled catnip on the new scratching post to get her interested.”
What part of speech is “catnip”?
“Catnip” is a noun.
How many meanings does “catnip” have?
“Catnip” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a minty plant (Nepeta cataria) whose scent triggers playful, euphoric behavior in cats.
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