Tobacco

Definition

Tobacco is a product prepared from the leaves of the tobacco plant by curing them, primarily used for smoking in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, or for chewing or for making snuff.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /təˈbæk.oʊ/
• Respelling: tuh-BAK-oh (with "tuh" as a schwa sound like the 'a' in "about," "BAK" as in "back," and "oh" as in "oh")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /təˈbæk.əʊ/
• Respelling: tuh-BAK-oh (similar to American English, with "tuh" as in "about," "BAK" as in "back," and "oh" like in "oh")

In both dialects, "tobacco" is pronounced with the primary stress on the second syllable, "BAK." The word begins with a schwa sound "tuh," followed by "BAK," and ends with "oh." The pronunciation of "tobacco" is quite similar between American and British English, with subtle differences in accentuation and vowel quality.

Etymology

The term "tobacco" comes from the Spanish word "tabaco", which was borrowed from Taino, a pre-Columbian language of the Caribbean. The specific origin is unclear but is believed to refer either to a tobacco pipe used for inhaling smoke or the tobacco plant itself.

Derivatives

• Tobacconist
• Tobacco-less
• Tobacco-like
• Tobacco-user
• Tobacco-growing

Synonyms

• Cigarette
• Cigar
• Snuff

Antonyms

• None

Usage

• "Tobacco" is most commonly associated with the act of smoking, but it is also used in various cultural, medicinal, and recreational practices around the world.
• In economic contexts, tobacco cultivation and production play major roles in several countries.

Related Terms

• Nicotine
• Smoking
• Curing
• Pipe
• Chew

Detailed Definition

Noun

• Plant and Product: A tropical American plant (Nicotiana tabacum) of the nightshade family with large sticky leaves. The leaves of this plant, dried and processed chiefly for use in cigarettes, cigars, or snuff or for smoking in pipes.
• Example: He grows tobacco in his backyard.

• Recreational Substance: Any product made from the tobacco plant’s cured leaves, primarily used for smoking, chewing, or as snuff.
• Example: The government has imposed heavy taxes on tobacco products.

• Addictive Constituent: A reference to nicotine, an addictive chemical found in tobacco.
• Example: Many people find it hard to quit smoking due to the addictive nature of tobacco.