Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
ophthalmic
ophthalmitis
ophthalmo-
ophthalmol.
ophthalmology
ophthalmoscope
ophthalmoscopy
-opia
opiate
OPIC
opine
opinion
opinion poll
opinion shopping
opinionated
opinionative
opioid
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "opiating" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

opiate

o·pi·ate [ ṓpee ət ]


noun  (plural o·pi·ates)
Definition:
 
1. opium-containing drug: a drug that contains opium or an opium derivative, e.g. morphine or heroin

2. sleep-inducing substance: a drug, hormone, or other substance capable of inducing drowsiness and other effects similar to those of opium or its derivatives

3. something with dulling effect: something that has a relaxing, pacifying, or dulling effect
TV, often described as the opiate of the masses



adjective 
Definition:
 
1. containing opium: containing opium or an opium derivative

2. boring: mind-numbingly unexciting, especially because of being simplistic, cliché-ridden, or formulaic



transitive verb  (past and past participle o·pi·at·ed, present participle o·pi·at·ing, 3rd person present singular o·pi·ates)
Definition:
 
1. pharmacology treat somebody with opiate: to treat somebody, or somebody's symptoms, with an opiate

2. dull pain: to dull or deaden pain, anguish, or some other unwanted condition

[15th century. < medieval Latin opiatus< Latin opium (see opium)]
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft