drug

(drŭg)

a. A substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or as a component of a medication.

b. Such a substance as recognized or defined by the US Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

2. A chemical substance, such as a narcotic or hallucinogen, that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often addiction.

3. Obsolete A chemical or dye.

tr.v. drugged, drug·ging, drugs

a. To administer a drug to, especially to treat pain or induce anesthesia.

b. To give a drug to, especially surreptitiously, in order to induce stupor.

2. To poison or mix (food or drink) with a drug.

[Middle English drogge, from Old French drogue, drug, perhaps from Middle Dutch droge (vate), dry (cases), pl. of drog, dry.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

drugging - the administration of a sedative agent or drug

sedation

giving medication, administration - the act of administering medication

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Meanwhile, as we thus lay entranced, the occasional sudden frantic spectacles in the distance evinced the activity of the other boats, still engaged in drugging the whales on the frontier of the host; or possibly carrying on the war within the first circle, where abundance of room and some convenient retreats were afforded them.

View in context

Steve and Vicky plausibly contend that the school officials who insisted on drugging Shaina were directly responsible for her tragic and unnecessary death.

Rather than reconsidering the wisdom of drugging the child, school officials insisted that Michael suffered from "some other disorder"--variously described as either bi-polar disorder or "social anxiety." Paxil, an anti-anxiety drug--was added to the regimen.

Drugging our kids: despite the dangers posed by drugs such as Ritalin, some schools are threatening parents with child abuse charges if they refuse to drug their children

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