nicotine

Everyday

A chemical drug found in tobacco plants, cigarettes and vapes; it is poisonous and makes people addicted, so they find it very hard to stop. tree →

In the lessons

In health and drug education lessons: nicotine is the reason people get hooked on smoking and vaping; it raises heart rate and harms young brains. It is illegal to sell cigarettes and nicotine vapes to children. Liquid nicotine for vapes is poisonous if swallowed — keep it away from small children and pets.

Examples

• Cigarettes contain nicotine. tree →
• Nicotine makes it very hard for people to stop smoking. tree →
• Many vapes have nicotine in them. tree →
• Nicotine is harmful to growing brains. tree →
• Liquid nicotine is poisonous if swallowed. tree →
• Grandpa uses nicotine patches to help him quit smoking. tree →
• Shops cannot sell nicotine products to children. tree →

Note

Uncountable: no «a», no plural. Said «NIK-o-teen». A myth: vapes are not «just water vapour» — most contain nicotine. Nicotine is named after Jean Nicot, who brought tobacco to France.