Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A white, odorless, bitter crystalline compound, C21H23NO5, that is derived from morphine and is a highly addictive illegal narcotic.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A simplified spelling of heroine.
  • noun Diacetyl-morphia: a remedy valuable in the treatment of various forms of respiratory disease. It allays cough and acts as a hypnotic.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Chem.) a morphine derivative, diacetyl morphine, used to relieve severe pain and as a sedative. It is highly addictive, and its use is strictly controlled in the U.S. by federal law. It is a popular strong narcotic drug of abuse, in part because it is more soluble than morphine. It is sometimes included as one of the components of Brompton's mixture, used to control pain in terminallly ill patients.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A powerful and addictive drug derived from opium producing intense euphoria classed as an illegal narcotic in most of the world.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a narcotic that is considered a hard drug; a highly addictive morphine derivative; intravenous injection provides the fastest and most intense rush

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[German, originally a trademark.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Since the 1890s from a German trademark, from Ancient Greek ἥρως (hērōs, "hero") (due to the feelings of power and exaltation while under the influence of the drug).

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Examples

Comments

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  • Wordie is my heroin.

    July 11, 2007

  • S, did you know that this word was originally a trademark name? (This from my store of almost-useless knowledge.) Very interesting story.

    July 11, 2007

  • No, I did not. Must know more. Thanks for the bit of knowledge. I know what you mean about almost-useless knowledge. It is fun to find a use for it, no matter how frivolous.

    July 11, 2007

  • I see that I'm the first person to list this word. And I have no idea why. Must find the list it's on.

    July 11, 2007

  • Oh, I found it. It's on a Stuffie: Stuff you shoot. :-)

    July 11, 2007

  • I was wondering that too, u. Didn't seem like your type of word. ;-)

    July 11, 2007

  • Heroin depresses the central nervous system creating a feeling of euphoria. Symptoms of an overdose include cramps, disturbed vision, low blood pressure, coma and death from respiratory failure.

    February 28, 2015