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

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

morphines plural

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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

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morphia

Rhymes for morphine

nine mine wine line sine dine fine vine pine tine thine shine

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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.