Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of drug
"The police raided the warehouse and seized thousands of illegal drugs from the operation."
In plain English: Drugs are substances that change how your body and mind work when you take them.
"Many people start taking drugs to deal with their pain but eventually become addicted."
Usage: In everyday conversation, drugs refers specifically to illegal or controlled substances used for recreation rather than medicine. Use this term when discussing narcotics like cocaine or heroin, not when referring to prescribed medications.
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of drug
"She does not drug her food, but she sometimes adds salt to enhance the flavor."
In plain English: To drug someone means to secretly put medicine or chemicals into their food or drink so they become confused or lose control of themselves.
"The rain began to drug the crowd with its relentless, hypnotic rhythm."
Usage: The verb drugs means to force someone down or suppress their energy, such as when heavy rain drugs the wind or fatigue drugs a runner's pace. Do not use it to describe taking illegal substances, which requires the noun form (e.g., "He uses drugs").
Derived from the Old French drogue, originally referring to dried seaweed used as an adulterant in spices, the term came to denote any substance with psychoactive or medicinal effects by the 17th century.