Opioid

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈəʊpiɔɪd/

Origin

From opium + -oid.

Full definition of opioid

Noun

1. A substance that is like opium.
2. (physiology) Any of the natural substances, such as an endorphin, released in the body in response to pain.
3. (pharmacology) Any of a group of synthetic compounds that exhibit similarities to the opium alkaloids that occur in nature.

Hyponyms

• opiate