EXCITANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does excitant mean? 

• EXCITANT (noun)
  The noun EXCITANT has 1 sense:

1. a drug that temporarily quickens some vital process

  Familiarity information: EXCITANT used as a noun is very rare.

• EXCITANT (adjective)
  The adjective EXCITANT has 1 sense:

1. (of drugs e.g.) able to excite or stimulate

  Familiarity information: EXCITANT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXCITANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A drug that temporarily quickens some vital process

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

excitant; stimulant; stimulant drug

Hypernyms ("excitant" is a kind of...):

drug (a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "excitant"):

amphetamine; pep pill; speed; upper (a central nervous system stimulant that increases energy and decreases appetite; used to treat narcolepsy and some forms of depression)

analeptic (a medication used as a stimulant to the central nervous system)

aphrodisiac (a drug or other agent that stimulates sexual desire)

butyl nitrite; isobutyl nitrite (a colorless pungent liquid sometimes used as a stimulant drug by drug abusers)

African tea; Arabian tea; cat; kat; khat; qat; quat (the leaves of the shrub Catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea; has the effect of a euphoric stimulant)

methylphenidate; Ritalin (central nervous system stimulant (trade name Ritalin) used in the treatment of narcolepsy in adults and attention deficit disorder in children)

popper (a container of stimulant drug (amyl nitrate or butyl nitrite))

• EXCITANT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of drugs e.g.) able to excite or stimulate

Synonyms:

excitant; excitative; excitatory

Similar:

stimulative (capable of arousing or accelerating physiological or psychological activity or response by a chemical agent)

Derivation:

excite (act as a stimulant)

excite (cause to be agitated, excited, or roused)

excite (stir feelings in)