noun
opiate
OH-pee-uht
Opiate (noun) means a drug derived from opium, used medically to relieve pain or induce sleep. Example: “Doctors prescribe opiates cautiously because of the risk of addiction.”
noun
1
A drug derived from opium, used medically to relieve pain or induce sleep.
"Doctors prescribe opiates cautiously because of the risk of addiction."
2
Something that dulls awareness or creates a false sense of calm or contentment.
"He called television "the opiate of the masses.""
adjective
1
Causing sleepiness or numbing sensation, like opium.
"The opiate effects of the medication made her drowsy all afternoon."
How to use opiate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pain-relieving, sedating drug related to opium, or figuratively anything that numbs people into a false sense of ease.
Common mistake
"Opiate" strictly refers to natural opium derivatives (like morphine and codeine); "opioid" is the broader term including synthetic drugs, though the two are often used loosely as synonyms.
Easily confused with
opioid
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Word forms
- Plural
- opiates
- Third person singular
- opiates
- Past tense
- opiated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Doctors prescribe _____ cautiously because of the risk of addiction.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin opiatus, ultimately from opium.
Rhymes for opiate
See all rhymes for opiate →Frequently asked questions
What does “opiate” mean?
The word “opiate” means a drug derived from opium, used medically to relieve pain or induce sleep. In plain terms, a pain-relieving, sedating drug related to opium, or figuratively anything that numbs people into a false sense of ease.
How do you pronounce “opiate”?
“Opiate” is pronounced OH-pee-uht (/ˈəʊpi.ət/ in IPA).
How do you use “opiate” in a sentence?
Here is “opiate” used in a sentence: “Doctors prescribe opiates cautiously because of the risk of addiction.”
What part of speech is “opiate”?
Depending on how it is used, “opiate” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “opiate” come from?
The word “opiate” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin opiatus, ultimately from opium.
How many meanings does “opiate” have?
“Opiate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a drug derived from opium, used medically to relieve pain or induce sleep.
