nicotine

Word family

• nicotinic
  adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Nicotine, caffeine, and tar are all substances found in everyday products, but they affect the body very differently. Nicotine is the addictive chemical in tobacco — it is what makes smoking so hard to stop. Caffeine, found in coffee and tea, is a mild stimulant that can also create dependence, but it is far less addictive and has no serious health effects when used in moderation. Tar is a sticky, dark substance produced when tobacco burns; it contains cancer-causing chemicals and damages the lungs, but it is not addictive like nicotine. Tobacco itself is the plant material, not a single chemical. For example: 'The nicotine in cigarettes hooks the smoker, while the tar damages the lungs.'

Common collocations

Etymology

Named after Jean Nicot (1530–1604), the French ambassador to Portugal who sent tobacco seeds and powder to the French royal court in the 1550s. The word 'nicotine' was formed by adding the chemical suffix '-ine' to his surname in the early 1800s, following the convention for naming alkaloids.