Reading Theme:
Addict: Definition, Usage, and Key Differences (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：a passionate enthusiast (addict)
addict
/əˈdɪkt/
n.
A person who loves something so much they can‘t stop doing it, like a hobby or activity.
a passionate enthusiast
➕
/ə ˈpæʃənɪt ɪnˈθuːziæst/
n.
Refers to a person who is extremely dedicated to a hobby or activity, often spending excessive time on it due to strong interest.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'addictus', past participle of 'addicere' (ad- 'to' + dicere 'say'), meaning 'assigned'.
💡 Mnemonic
Think 'ADD-ict': someone who ADDs a compulsive habit to their life, making it hard to stop.
📖 Example
Ever since he got his first skateboard, my little brother has become a complete skateboarding addict, practicing for hours every day after school.
My little brother turned into a total skateboarding fanatic after getting his first board, practicing for hours daily after school.
🔗 Collocations
video game addict – a person excessively devoted to playing video games
shopping addict – someone who compulsively shops
work addict – a person obsessed with working
🔄 Synonyms
enthusiast (n.) – a person who is very interested in a particular activity or subject
fanatic (n.) – a person filled with excessive zeal for a cause or activity
devotee (n.) – a strong enthusiast or supporter
🚫 Antonyms
casual (n.) – a person who participates occasionally without deep commitment
indifferent person (n.) – someone with no particular interest or enthusiasm
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
Originates from Latin 'addictus', a debtor legally bound to a creditor. Evolved to denote compulsive dependency, now common in terms like 'social media addict' or 'gaming addict'.
Meaning 2：a person dependent on drugs (addict)
addict
/əˈdɪkt/
n.
A person who cannot stop taking harmful drugs, like illegal drugs or alcohol, which causes big problems for their health and life.
a person dependent on drugs
➕
/ə ˈpɜːsən dɪˈpɛndənt ɒn drʌɡz/
n.
Describes an individual who is physically or psychologically unable to stop using harmful substances, leading to severe health and social issues.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
After years of struggle, he finally sought help and, with the support of his family and counselors, has not touched drugs for five years, proving recovery is possible for a former addict.
After years of difficulty, he finally got help and, with family and counselor support, has been drug-free for five years, showing recovery is achievable for ex-addicts.
🔗 Collocations
drug addict – a person addicted to illegal or harmful drugs
alcohol addict – someone addicted to alcohol
recovering addict – a person who is in the process of overcoming addiction
🔄 Synonyms
junkie (n.) – slang for a drug addict
substance abuser (n.) – a person who misuses drugs or alcohol
dependent (n.) – someone reliant on a substance
🚫 Antonyms
sober person (n.) – an individual who does not consume addictive substances
abstainer (n.) – a person who refrains from using drugs or alcohol
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