morphine

noun

mor·​phine ˈmȯr-ˌfēn 

: a bitter crystalline addictive narcotic base C₁₇H₁₉NO₃ that is the principal alkaloid of opium and is used in the form of a soluble salt (such as a hydrochloride or a sulfate) as an analgesic and sedative

Examples of morphine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When French authorities stopped him at the border and threatened to hand him over to the Gestapo, Benjamin swallowed an overdose of morphine. —Nina Siegal, New York Times, 7 May 2025

Louise confesses to wishing for her mother to die and sometimes wonders if an overdose of morphine might’ve been the kinder option. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Many see illicit fentanyl, said to be about 50 times as powerful as heroin and 100 times as powerful as morphine, as the worst drug epidemic the country has ever seen. —Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025

Intellectually, Cousins knew laughter was good for the body, producing endorphins, chemicals produced in the brain that act on the same receptors as morphine to mask pain. —Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Morpheus

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

morphine

noun

mor·​phine ˈmȯr-ˌfēn 

: a bitter white habit-forming narcotic drug made from opium and used especially to deaden pain

Etymology

derived from Morpheus "Greek god of dreams"

Medical Definition

morphine

noun

mor·​phine ˈmȯr-ˌfēn 

: a bitter crystalline addictive narcotic base C₁₇H₁₉NO₃ that is the principal alkaloid of opium and is used in the form of its hydrated sulfate (C₁₇H₁₉NO₃)₂·H₂SO₄·5H₂O or hydrated hydrochloride C₁₇H₁₉NO₃·HCl·3H₂O as an analgesic and sedative