morphine
pronunciation
How to pronounce morphine in British English:
UK [ˈmɔ:fi:n]
How to pronounce morphine in American English:
US [ˈmɔrfin]
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- Noun:
- an alkaloid narcotic drug extracted from opium; a powerful, habit-forming narcotic used to relieve pain
Word Origin
- morphine (n.)
- chief alkaloid of opium, 1828, from French morphine or German Morphin (1816), name coined by German apothecary Friedrich Sertürner (1783-1840) in reference to Latin Morpheus, Ovid's name for the god of dreams, from Greek morphe "form, shape, beauty, outward appearance," perhaps from PIE *merph-, a possible Greek root meaning "form," of unknown origin. So called because of the drug's sleep-inducing properties.
Example
- 1. The placebo proved almost as effective as morphine .
- 2. Dr benedetti observed that morphine falls into the second category .
- 3. He claims it is between 20 and 200 times more effective than morphine .
- 4. A 75mg daily dose of morphine would make all the difference .
- 5. Endorphines in turn are neurotransmitters that are chemically similar to morphine .