drug
A substance used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, or modify a chemical process in the body for a specific purpose.
Example
“Aspirin is a drug that reduces pain, acts against inflammation and lowers body temperature.”
Other meanings
A psychoactive substance, especially one which is illegal and addictive, ingested for recreational use, such as cocaine.
“We took drugs and partied all night.”
Anything, such as a substance, emotion or action, to which one is addicted.
Word history
From Old Dutch "drōgi" (dry).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “drug” on Wiktionary, by its contributors, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.