nicotine
English
Etymology
Borrowed from French nicotine, named after Jean Nicot, French ambassador to Portugal, who sent tobacco seeds back to France in 1561. Etymology of the surname itself is unclear.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈnɪkətiːn/
Noun
nicotine (uncountable)
- (organic chemistry) An alkaloid (C10H14N2), commonly occurring in the tobacco plant. In small doses it is a habit-forming stimulant; in larger doses it is toxic and is often used in insecticides.
- (figuratively) tobacco, cigarettes
- He is addicted to nicotine.
Translations
addictive alkaloid derived from tobacco
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French
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Further reading
- “nicotine” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
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