Substance extracted from poppies (5) Crossword Clue
Answer: OPIUM (5 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Substance extracted from poppies" with 5 letters is "OPIUM".Opium is a substance derived from the poppy plant, specifically the opium poppy, and contains alkaloids like morphine and codeine. It has been historically used for its analgesic properties but is also known for its addictive nature and is regulated in most countries due to its potential for abuse.
Why “Opium” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (5 letters) meaning “substance extracted from poppies.” The answer, OPIUM, fits perfectly:
- Substance extracted from poppies: Opium is a narcotic substance obtained from the dried latex of the opium poppy plant, used historically for medicine and recreation.
- Direct match: With 5 letters, opium exactly matches the clue’s enumeration.
- Precise definition: Among substances derived from poppies, opium is the most direct and commonly recognized answer in both everyday and crossword contexts.
The word opium has a long history of use and significance:
- Origin and usage: From Greek opion (“poppy juice”), the term has been in use since ancient times, known to civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Chinese.
- Contexts: Historically used in medicine as a powerful painkiller and sedative. Later, it became famous for its addictive and recreational use, leading to the “Opium Wars” in the 19th century.
- Examples: “Doctors once prescribed opium as a pain reliever,” or “The trade of opium greatly influenced colonial history.” Both point clearly to the poppy-derived substance.
Quick crossword clues like “substance extracted from poppies (5)” rely on straightforward and culturally familiar answers:
- Alternatives like latex (5) may cross a solver’s mind but don’t tie directly to “poppies” in the way opium does.
- The exotic yet common nature of the word opium, with its global cultural and historical associations, makes it both memorable and fitting.
- With its exact match in letter count and its precise definition, opium is the indisputable solution.
