drug

I UK [drʌɡ] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "drug":
singular drug plural drugs
***

1)

a) an illegal substance that affects someone physically or mentally when they take it (= put it into their body)

take/use drugs:

She had never taken drugs in her life.

be on drugs (= be affected by drugs):

He acted as if he was on drugs (= had taken drugs).

b) [only before noun] involving drugs or taking drugs

drug addict/user/dealer:

Intravenous drug users are at risk from the HIV virus.

drug trafficking/smuggling:

The government has pledged to fight drug smuggling.

•

Collocations:
Nouns frequently used with drug
▪  abuser, addict, dealer, smuggler, user Verbs frequently used with drug as the object ▪  peddle, sell, smuggle, supply, take, use

2) a substance that you take to treat a disease or medical problem

Your doctor may prescribe drugs for this condition.

a new anti-cancer drug

II UK [drʌɡ] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "drug":
present tense I/you/we/they drug he/she/it drugs present participle drugging past tense drugged past participle drugged
*

1) to give a drug to someone so that they will go to sleep or will become unconscious

There were stories of tourists being drugged and robbed.

2) to put a drug in food or drink so that someone will swallow it without knowing

She had drugged his wine.

Phrasal verbs:

- drug up