Laudanum is an old-fashioned term for a narcoticA drug that dulls pain and can cause sleepiness or addiction. preparationA mixture or product made for a particular use. made from opium, usually dissolved in alcohol. It is a specific drug preparation, not a general word for all opiatesDrugs derived from opium that relieve pain and may cause dependence..
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈlɔdənəm/
Easy pronunciation: LAW-duh-num (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: LAW.
Noun meaning a narcotic made from opium, usually in an alcohol solution.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Laudanum Meaning
A medicine or drug made from opium and alcohol.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A narcotic made from opium, usually in an alcohol solution.
Example: In older novels, laudanum is sometimes mentioned as a painkiller or sleeping medicine.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- tincture of opium — The direct dictionary synonym for this specific opium preparation.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Laudanum Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- tincture of opium
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use laudanum to mean any opioid or any drug made from opium, but it refers to a specific preparation.
- It is often confused with general terms like 'opium' or 'narcotic,' but those are broader than laudanum.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does laudanum mean?
Laudanum means an opium-based narcotic, usually an alcohol solution of opium.
What is a synonym for laudanum?
A direct synonym is tincture of opium.
Is laudanum still commonly used?
No, it is an old-fashioned term and is rarely used in everyday modern English.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.