nicotine

noun

nic·​o·​tine ˈni-kə-ˌtēn 

: a poisonous alkaloid C₁₀H₁₄N₂ that is the chief active principle of tobacco and is used as an insecticide

Examples of nicotine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Research has shown that nicotine exposure results in long-term functional and structural changes in the brain. —Jon-Patrick Allem, The Conversation, 31 May 2024

However, researchers have warned that vaping is now creating nicotine addicts out of people who wouldn’t have otherwise used nicotine products. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 24 May 2024

The measure, vetoed in 2022 before reappearing in the state budget, said regulating tobacco and alternative nicotine products should be up to the state, not municipalities. —Bruce Shipkowski, Fortune, 20 May 2024

The revelation that tobacco companies could control the amount of nicotine in cigarettes sparked two decades of work in Washington that eventually led to the FDA gaining the power to regulate cigarettes in 2009. —Nicholas Florko, STAT, 13 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from New Latin nicotiana

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

nicotine

noun

nic·​o·​tine ˈnik-ə-ˌtēn 

: a poisonous substance found in tobacco and used as an insecticide

Medical Definition

nicotine

noun

nic·​o·​tine ˈnik-ə-ˌtēn 

: a poisonous alkaloid C₁₀H₁₄N₂ that is the chief active principle of tobacco and that is used as an insecticide and is sometimes used in smoking cessation aids

Note: Trademarks for nicotine include Nicoderm, Nicorette, and Nicotrol.