Definitions for narcoticnɑrˈkɒt ɪk

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

nar•cot•icnɑrˈkɒt ɪk(n.)

any of a class of habituating or addictive substances that blunt the senses and in increasing doses cause confusion, stupor, coma, and death: some are used in medicine to relieve intractable pain or induce anesthesia.
Category: Pharmacology
anything that exercises a soothing or numbing effect or influence.
(adj.)of or having the power to produce narcosis, as a drug.
pertaining to or of the nature of narcosis.
of or pertaining to narcotics or their use.
Category: Pharmacology
used by, or in the treatment of, narcotic addicts.
Category: Pharmacology

Origin of narcotic:

1350–1400; ME narcotik(e) (n.) < ML narcōticum < Gk narkōtikón, n. use of neut. of narkōtikós numbing =narkō-, var. s. of narkoûn to numb (see narcosis ) +-tikos -tic

nar•cot′i•cal•ly(adv.)

Princeton's WordNet

narcotic(adj)
a drug that produces numbness or stupor; often taken for pleasure or to reduce pain; extensive use can lead to addiction
narcotic(adj)
of or relating to or designating narcotics
"narcotic addicts"; "narcotic stupor"
narcotic, narcotizing, narcotising(adj)
inducing stupor or narcosis
"narcotic drugs"
narcotic, soporiferous, soporific(adj)
inducing mental lethargy
"a narcotic speech"

Wiktionary

narcotic(Noun)
Any class of substances or drugs, that reduces pain, induces sleep and may alter mood or behaviour.
narcotic(Noun)
Any type of numbing drug.
narcotic(Noun)
Certain illegal drugs.
narcotic(Adjective)
Of, or relating to narcotics.
narcotic(Adjective)
Inducing sleep; causing narcosis.

Webster Dictionary

Narcotic(adj)
having the properties of a narcotic; operating as a narcotic
Narcotic(noun)
a drug which, in medicinal doses, generally allays morbid susceptibility, relieves pain, and produces sleep; but which, in poisonous doses, produces stupor, coma, or convulsions, and, when given in sufficient quantity, causes death. The best examples are opium (with morphine), belladonna (with atropine), and conium