nicotine

[ nik-uh-teen, -tin, nik-uh-teen ]

nounChemistry.
  1. a colorless, oily, water-soluble, highly toxic, liquid alkaloid, C10H14N2, found in tobacco and valued as an insecticide.

Origin of nicotine

1
From French, dating back to 1810–20; see origin at nicotiana, -ine2

Other words from nicotine

  • nic·o·tined, adjective
  • nic·o·tine·less, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for nicotine

nicotine

/ (ˈnɪkəˌtiːn) /


noun
  1. a colourless oily acrid toxic liquid that turns yellowish-brown in air and light: the principal alkaloid in tobacco, used as an agricultural insecticide. Formula: C 10 H 14 N 2

Origin of nicotine

1
C19: from French, from New Latin herba nicotiana Nicot's plant, named after J. Nicot (1530–1600), French diplomat who introduced tobacco into France

Derived forms of nicotine

  • nicotined, adjective
  • nicotinic (ˌnɪkəˈtɪnɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for nicotine

nicotine

[ nĭkə-tēn′ ]


  1. A colorless, poisonous compound occurring naturally in the tobacco plant. It is used in medicine and as an insecticide, and it is the substance in tobacco products to which smokers can become addicted. Nicotine is an alkaloid. Chemical formula: C10H14N2.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for nicotine

nicotine

[ (nik-uh-teen) ]


A poisonous chemical substance found in the tobacco plant.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.