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noun Uncommon

nicotine

NIH-kuh-teen

Nicotine (noun) means an addictive chemical found naturally in the tobacco plant. Example: “Nicotine is the substance in cigarettes that makes them so addictive.”

noun
1
An addictive chemical found naturally in the tobacco plant.
"Nicotine is the substance in cigarettes that makes them so addictive."
"The patch delivers a small dose of nicotine to help people quit smoking."

How to use nicotine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe addictive chemical in tobacco.

Common pairings
nicotine patch nicotine addiction nicotine withdrawal
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Test yourself on “nicotine” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ is the substance in cigarettes that makes them so addictive.

Etymology

Named after Jean Nicot, the French diplomat who introduced tobacco to France in the 16th century after receiving seeds from Portugal.

Origin: French · First attested 1500

Class of 1500 nicotine joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →

Rhymes for nicotine

See all rhymes for nicotine →

Frequently asked questions

What does “nicotine” mean?

The word “nicotine” means an addictive chemical found naturally in the tobacco plant. In plain terms, the addictive chemical in tobacco.

How do you pronounce “nicotine”?

“Nicotine” is pronounced NIH-kuh-teen (/ˈnɪkətiːn/ in IPA).

How do you use “nicotine” in a sentence?

Here is “nicotine” used in a sentence: “Nicotine is the substance in cigarettes that makes them so addictive.”

What part of speech is “nicotine”?

“Nicotine” is a noun.

Where does the word “nicotine” come from?

The word “nicotine” dates back to around 1500 and comes from French. Named after Jean Nicot, the French diplomat who introduced tobacco to France in the 16th century after receiving seeds from Portugal.

Is “nicotine” a common word?

“Nicotine” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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