opiate

C2 Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives

US /ˈoʊpiət/ UK /ˈəʊpiət/ See IPA manual

Freq #37706

Meanings

1

noun
a sedative or narcotic drug containing opium or one of its natural derivatives

The physician administered an opiate so that the patient could sleep.
2

adj
relating to, containing, or having the effects of opium

The hospital kept the opiate medicine in a locked cabinet.
3

adj
numbing awareness or producing passivity and apathy

The critic described the spectacle as opiate entertainment for a weary public.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a sedative or narcotic drug... narcotic sedativeopioid

2 adj · relating to, containing, or... narcotic soporific

3 adj · numbing awareness or... deadeningstupefying

Opposites

stimulant

Word family

Derived forms opiatelikeopiatic

Related forms opiumopioidmorphinesedation

Etymology

From Middle English opiate, from Medieval Latin opiatus ("made with opium"), based on Latin opium, ultimately from Greek opion ("poppy juice"). The figurative adjective extends the drug's sedating effect to anything that dulls thought or feeling.

Topics

Word Formation & Derivatives General Vocabulary

External links

# opiate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈoʊpiət/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈəʊpiət/
**Frequency rank:** 37706

## Meanings
1. a sedative or narcotic drug containing opium or one of its natural derivatives
2. relating to, containing, or having the effects of opium
3. numbing awareness or producing passivity and apathy

## Examples
- The physician administered an opiate so that the patient could sleep.
- The hospital kept the opiate medicine in a locked cabinet.
- The critic described the spectacle as opiate entertainment for a weary public.

## Synonyms
- narcotic
- sedative
- opioid

## Antonyms
- stimulant

## Derived Forms
- opiatelike
- opiatic

## Related Forms
- opium
- opioid
- morphine
- sedation

## Etymology
From Middle English opiate, from Medieval Latin opiatus ("made with opium"), based on Latin opium, ultimately from Greek opion ("poppy juice"). The figurative adjective extends the drug's sedating effect to anything that dulls thought or feeling.

## Topics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- General Vocabulary

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