tobacco

noun

to·​bac·​co tə-ˈba-(ˌ)kō 

plural tobaccos

1

: any of a genus (Nicotiana) of chiefly American plants of the nightshade family with viscid foliage and tubular flowers

especially : a tall erect annual tropical American herb (N. tabacum) cultivated for its leaves

2

: the leaves of cultivated tobacco prepared for use in smoking or chewing or as snuff

3

: manufactured products of tobacco (such as cigars or cigarettes)

also : smoking as a practice

has sworn off tobacco

4

: a moderate brown

Illustration of tobacco

• tobacco 1

Examples of tobacco in a Sentence

a farm that grows tobacco

a state tax on tobacco

Recent Examples on the Web

Duke, a tobacco heiress, socialite and philanthropist, died in 1993 at age 80. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 24 Apr. 2024

Smoking devices such as e-cigarettes and vape pens are legal in Texas, but what about when those devices utilize THC instead of tobacco? While many states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, Texas has not. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2024

Christina Jewett covers the Food and Drug Administration, which means keeping a close eye on drugs, medical devices, food safety and tobacco policy. —Christina Jewett, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024

Vaping could impact the heart in similar ways to smoking tobacco. —Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 12 Apr. 2024

Use of tobacco, vaping and e-cigarettes is not allowed inside the stadium. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024

The scents are woodsy and natural — sandalwood, tobacco — but gentle on women’s skin. —David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024

For people who already smoke tobacco cigarettes, though, Middlekauff said that current evidence suggests that e-cigarettes offer a safer alternative. —Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 12 Apr. 2024

For instance, in 2017, Partnership and other safety-net health plans backed Proposition 56 which increased tax rates on tobacco products and devoted much of that new revenue to pay for health care for low-income Californians. —Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish tabaco, probably from Taino, roll of tobacco leaves

First Known Use

circa 1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tobacco

• anti-tobacco
• chewing tobacco
• dipping tobacco
• Indian tobacco
• smokeless tobacco
• tobacco budworm
• tobacco hornworm
• tobacco juice
• tobacco mosaic virus
• tobacco road

Kids Definition

tobacco

noun

to·​bac·​co tə-ˈbak-ō 

plural tobaccos

1

: any of a genus of chiefly American plants of the nightshade family that have sticky leaves and tube-shaped flowers

especially : a tall upright tropical American herb with pink or white flowers that is grown for its leaves

2

: the leaves of cultivated tobacco prepared for use in smoking or chewing or as snuff

Medical Definition

tobacco

noun

to·​bac·​co tə-ˈbak-(ˌ)ō 

plural tobaccos

1

: any plant of the genus Nicotiana

especially : an annual South American herb (N. tabacum) cultivated for its leaves

2

: the leaves of cultivated tobacco prepared for use in smoking or chewing or as snuff

3

: manufactured products of tobacco

also : the use of tobacco as a practice