tobacco

The word “tobacco” means a plant of the genus Nicotiana, grown for its leaves. In plain terms, the plant, or its dried leaves, used to make cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco.

“Tobacco” is pronounced tuh-BA-koh (/təˈbækoʊ/ in IPA).

Here is “tobacco” used in a sentence: “Farmers in the region have grown tobacco for generations.”

“Tobacco” is a noun.

The word “tobacco” dates back to around 1588 and comes from Spanish. Recorded in English from 1588, borrowed via Spanish tabaco, itself likely from a Caribbean language word for a pipe or roll used for smoking.

“Tobacco” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Tobacco” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a plant of the genus Nicotiana, grown for its leaves.

"Tobacco" refers to the plant of the genus Nicotiana or its cured leaves used in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. "Nicotine" is the addictive chemical compound naturally found within the tobacco plant, so tobacco is the material and nicotine is one substance it contains.

"Tobacco" is usually uncountable when it refers to the cured leaf as a substance, so you say "some tobacco" rather than "a tobacco." It can become countable when referring to distinct types or varieties, as in "a blend of three tobaccos."

"Tobacco" frequently appears in compounds and phrases such as "tobacco leaf," "tobacco plant," "pipe tobacco," "chewing tobacco," and "the tobacco industry." It also combines with words describing use or trade, as in "tobacco smoke" and "tobacco farming."