opioid
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Attested 1963; from opium + -oid, to distinguish from opiate.
Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]opioid (plural opioids)
- A substance that has effects similar to opium:
- (physiology) Any of the natural substances, such as an endorphin, released in the body in response to pain; an endogenous opioid.
- (pharmacology) Any of a group of synthetic compounds that exhibit similarities to the opium alkaloids that occur in nature.
- Hyponym: opiate