addiction

/əˈdɪkʃən/

/əˈdɪkʃən/

Other forms: addictions

An addiction is an abnormally strong craving for something, which can sometimes grow so strong you have trouble living without it.

People will sometimes use the word addiction casually, like, "I have a major addiction to chocolate! Yummy!" But the word's true meaning is more serious, and refers to something that isn't so yummy, like an alcohol or drug addiction. When someone has an addiction to smoking, for example, they might not be able to stop smoking even if it causes them to get sick.

Definitions of addiction

1. noun

   being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)
   synonyms: dependance, dependence, dependency, habituation

   types:

   drug addiction, white plague

   an addiction to a drug (especially a narcotic drug)

   alcohol addiction, alcoholism, drunkenness, inebriation

   habitual intoxication; prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks leading to a breakdown in health and an addiction to alcohol such that abrupt deprivation leads to severe withdrawal symptoms

   cocaine addiction

   an addiction to cocaine

   heroin addiction

   an addiction to heroin

   caffein addiction

   an addiction to caffein

   nicotine addiction

   an addiction to nicotine

   type of:

   physical condition, physiological condition, physiological state

   the condition or state of the body or bodily functions
2. noun

   an abnormally strong craving
   type of:

   craving

   an intense desire for some particular thing
3. noun

   (Roman law) a formal award by a magistrate of a thing or person to another person (as the award of a debtor to his creditor); a surrender to a master
   type of:

   award, awarding

   a grant made by a law court