mescaline

noun

mes·​ca·​line ˈme-skə-lən How to pronounce mescaline (audio) ˈme-skə-ˌlēn How to pronounce mescaline (audio)
: a hallucinatory crystalline alkaloid C11H17NO3 that is the chief psychoactive principle in peyote buttons
Natural psychedelics such as mescaline or psilocybin are found in plants considered sacred since ancient times.—Luis Alberto Henríquez-Hernández et al.

Examples of mescaline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These are psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine, ibogaine and mescaline. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024 The San Pedro cactus, which has been used for thousands of years by Andean communities in northern Peru, also contains mescaline and can be consumed for similar medicinal purposes. —Michaela Trimble, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2024 Peyote, another cactus that also contains mescaline, is a popular choice, as is ayahuasca, a psychoactive tea. —Food Drink Life, The Mercury News, 22 June 2024 Mark Newman It is becoming increasingly accepted that classic psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca, and mescaline can act as antidepressants and anti-anxiety treatments in addition to causing hallucinations. —Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 10 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for mescaline 

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mescaline was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near mescaline

Mescalero

mescaline

mescal maguey

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Cite this Entry

“Mescaline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mescaline. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

mescaline

noun
mes·​ca·​line ˈmes-kə-lən How to pronounce mescaline (audio)
-ˌlēn
: a drug that is obtained from the peyote cactus and causes hallucinations

Medical Definition

mescaline

noun
mes·​ca·​line ˈmes-kə-lən How to pronounce mescaline (audio) -ˌlēn How to pronounce mescaline (audio)
: a hallucinatory crystalline alkaloid C11H17NO3 that is the chief psychoactive principle in peyote buttons

More from Merriam-Webster on mescaline

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mescaline

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