morphine

Also mor·phi·a

[mawr-feen]

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a white, bitter, crystalline alkaloid, C 1 7 H 1 9 NO 3 ⋅H 2 O, the most important narcotic and addictive principle of opium, obtained by extraction and crystallization and used chiefly in medicine as a pain reliever and sedative.

morphine

/ ˈmɔːfiːn, ˈmɔːfɪə /

noun

1. an alkaloid extracted from opium: used in medicine as an analgesic and sedative, although repeated use causes addiction. Formula: C 17 H 19 NO 3

morphine

1. A highly addictive drug derived from opium and used to treat intractable pain, as in severe injury or metastatic cancer.

morphine

1. An addictive drug derived from opium that is used as an analgesic and sedative.

Other Word Forms

• morphinic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of morphine¹

From the German word Morphin, dating back to 1820–30. See Morpheus, -ine ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of morphine¹

C19: from French, from _Morpheus

Example Sentences

Consultants eventually referred the grandfather for palliative care, firstly at home - where he was prescribed heavy dosages of morphine by the local health centre - and then at Borders General Hospital from 15 May 2023.

From BBC

Over the next few months she says she became reliant on prescription painkillers: "I was on fentanyl and morphine. It took me a long time to come off of the morphine because I was addicted."

From BBC

“Fentanyl is too dangerous a threat — 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine — to not treat its lethality with the seriousness and immediacy it requires,” Hochman said.

From Los Angeles Times

Carfentanil, which is 10,000 times more potent than morphine, can be lethal at a fraction of the two milligram range for fentanyl, health officials said.

From Los Angeles Times

Following evidence submitted at a misconduct panel hearing in February, the TRA also found that on "one or more occasions" Mr Bright had offered morphine to Former Pupil A.

From BBC

Related Words

• aspirin 
• drug 
• medicine 
• ointment 
• opiate 
• sedative 
• tranquilizer