noun
Uncommon
morphine
MAW-feen
Morphine (noun) means a powerful painkiller extracted from opium, used medically to relieve severe pain. Example: “Nurses gave her morphine to manage the pain after surgery.”
noun
1
A powerful painkiller extracted from opium, used medically to relieve severe pain.
"Nurses gave her morphine to manage the pain after surgery."
"Morphine is highly effective but carries a real risk of dependence."
How to use morphine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA strong opioid drug used to control severe pain.
Common mistake
Not the same as "morphing" — unrelated meanings despite the shared root word.
Common pairings
a dose of morphine
morphine drip
administer morphine
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like morphine.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- morphines
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Nurses gave her _____ to manage the pain after surgery.
Etymology
Named after Morpheus, the Roman god of dreams, because of the drug's powerful sedative and dream-inducing effects.
Synonyms
View more →
morphia
Rhymes for morphine
See all rhymes for morphine →Frequently asked questions
What does “morphine” mean?
The word “morphine” means a powerful painkiller extracted from opium, used medically to relieve severe pain. In plain terms, a strong opioid drug used to control severe pain.
How do you pronounce “morphine”?
“Morphine” is pronounced MAW-feen (/ˈmɔɹˌfin/ in IPA).
How do you use “morphine” in a sentence?
Here is “morphine” used in a sentence: “Nurses gave her morphine to manage the pain after surgery.”
What part of speech is “morphine”?
“Morphine” is a noun.
Is “morphine” a common word?
“Morphine” is an uncommon word in modern English.
