methamphetamine
/ˌmeθæmˈfetəmiːn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmeθæmˈfetəmiːn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌme-tham-ˈfe-tə-ˌmēn -thəm-, -mən/ (ame, mw)
methamphetamine — noun
1. A strong, man-made chemical that sharply increases activity in the brain and the
A strong, man-made chemical that sharply increases activity in the brain and the rest of the body. It is sometimes prescribed by doctors to treat conditions like severe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but it is much more commonly produced and used illegally because it creates an intense rush of energy and pleasure that very quickly leads to addiction.
To treat severe ADHD, Dr. Chen prescribed low-dose methamphetamine and monitored the patient closely.
prescribed medical use for ADHD — contrasts with illegal use
The methamphetamine found in the abandoned factory was nearly pure, the police chemist reported.
illegal production context; collocation: pure methamphetamine
After losing both her apartment and her job, Aisha finally entered a methamphetamine recovery program.
In Brewster County, one in four first-time methamphetamine users became dependent within six months.
- meth
The everyday abbreviation; used in informal speech, news headlines, and casual writing. Avoid in formal or clinical contexts.
- crystal meth
Refers specifically to the smokable crystalline form of methamphetamine. Common in addiction reporting and law enforcement language.
- amphetamine
A broader class of stimulant drugs. Methamphetamine is a subtype of amphetamine that is chemically modified to be more potent. Not interchangeable — amphetamine is less powerful and has different medical uses.
文法句型
methamphetamine is…
use/take/produce methamphetamine
methamphetamine addiction/abuse/lab
用法筆記
Methamphetamine is the formal, clinical name for this drug. In everyday conversation — in news reports, TV shows, and casual talk — people almost always shorten it to meth or say crystal meth. Slang terms like ice, crank, and speed are also common but sound very informal or dated. Only use the full word methamphetamine in medical writing, formal journalism, court documents, or academic contexts.