drug
DRUG is a four-letter English word worth 6 Scrabble points, with six one-letter neighbours and no anagrams.
Noun 4 meanings
A substance used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, or modify a chemical process in the body for a specific purpose.
“Aspirin is a drug that reduces pain, acts against inflammation and lowers body temperature.”
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.
Any commodity that lies on hand, or is not salable; an article of slow sale, or in no demand.
Verb 3 meanings
To administer intoxicating drugs to, generally without the recipient's knowledge or consent.
“She suddenly felt strange, and only then realized she'd been drugged.”
To add intoxicating drugs to with the intention of drugging someone.
“She suddenly felt strange. She realized her drink must have been drugged.”
To prescribe or administer drugs or medicines.
Etymology
From Middle English drogge (“medicine”), from Middle French drogue, drocque (“tincture, pharmaceutical product”) (c. 1462), from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German droge, as in droge vate (“dry vats, dry barrels”), mistaking droge for the contents, which were usually dried herbs, plants or wares.
Similar and opposite words
DRUG has a plain four-letter shape and a less plain range of meanings. It names a substance used to treat illness or change a body process, and it also covers psychoactive substances and anything a person is addicted to. A less familiar sense describes slow-moving goods, and the six-point Scrabble total comes from two letters worth two points each.
DRUG at a glance
- DRUG scores 6 in Scrabble: D and G are worth 2 points each; R and U are worth 1.
- Six one-letter changes produce DRAG, DRUM, DREG, TRUG, FRUG, and DRUB.
- No anagrams appear for the same four letters, D-G-R-U.
- Twelve listed rhymes share the -rug ending, including SHRUG and PRODRUG.
What does DRUG mean?
DRUG most often names a substance used to treat an illness, ease a symptom, or alter a chemical process in the body. The same word also has a recreational sense: a psychoactive substance, especially one described as illegal or addictive. Context tells you which meaning is intended.
There are two less everyday senses worth recognizing. DRUG can mean anything a person is addicted to, including an emotion or action, and it can describe a commodity that is slow to sell or has no demand. Those meanings make the word broader than its common medical use.
How does DRUG score 6 points?
DRUG’s Scrabble total is 6: D contributes 2, R contributes 1, U contributes 1, and G contributes 2. The two higher-value tiles sit at opposite ends, so the word’s score is easy to check without any unusual letter values.
For a rack or board search, compare its six one-letter neighbours: DRAG, DRUM, DREG, TRUG, FRUG, and DRUB. The familiar options are DRAG, DRUM, and DRUB; TRUG and FRUG are less likely to come to mind. DRUG has no anagrams, so rearranging its letters will not produce another entry in this set.
Rhymes with drug
All rhymes- SHRUG9
- MULTIDRUG13
- PRODRUG11
- ANTIDRUG10
- TRUG5
- FRUG8
- HEARTHRUG16
- SPRUG8
- BEDRUG10
- NONDRUG9
- POLYDRUG15
- POSTDRUG12
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