morphine

/ˌmɔrˈfin/
/ˈmɔfin/
IPA guide

Morphine is a pain-relieving medication. Someone who's in the hospital recovering from an accident or surgery might be prescribed morphine.

Morphine is a powerful narcotic that's related to opium — it's an opiate. Because of its strength and the danger of patients becoming addicted to it (as well as some nasty side effects), morphine is only prescribed in serious cases. Morphine is the French version of a word coined by a German pharmacist, Morphin, after the Ancient Greek god Morpheus, the god of dreams.

Definitions of morphine
  1. noun
    an alkaloid narcotic drug extracted from opium; a powerful, habit-forming narcotic used to relieve pain
    synonyms: morphia
    see moresee less
    types:
    apomorphine
    a morphine derivative that is not as strong as morphine; used as an emetic and in small doses as a sedative
    type of:
    analgesic, anodyne, pain pill, painkiller
    a medicine used to relieve pain
    opiate
    a narcotic drug that contains opium or an opium derivative
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