addiction - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

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.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: addiction

1	n	being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)
2	n	(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

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: addiction

1

n 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:: show 6 types...; hide 6 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

n an abnormally strong craving

Type of:: craving
an intense desire for some particular thing

2

n (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

“under Roman law addiction was the justification for slavery”

Type of:: award, awarding
a grant made by a law court