Cocaine

//kə(ʊ)ˈkeɪn// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An addictive drug derived from coca (Erythroxylum) or prepared synthetically, used sometimes medicinally as a local anesthetic and, often illegally, as a stimulant. uncountable
  2. 2
    a narcotic (alkaloid) extracted from coca leaves; used as a surface anesthetic or taken for pleasure; can become powerfully addictive wordnet
  3. 3
    An addictive drug derived from coca (Erythroxylum) or prepared synthetically, used sometimes medicinally as a local anesthetic and, often illegally, as a stimulant.; The powder form of this drug, specifically. countable, uncountable, usually

    "Holmes, who loathed every form of society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Baker-street, buried among his old books, and alternating from week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature."

  4. 4
    Any chemical derivative of this drug. countable
Verb
  1. 1
    Synonym of cocainize.

    "[…] cocaining the eye, then introducing a speculum, or having an assistant hold the lids open with retractors."

Example

More examples

"In the latest report, it is written that 90% of all the cocaine smuggled in the world is transported by sea, and most of that by speedboat."

Etymology

From coca + -ine, from Quechua kuka. First use appears c. 1874.

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.