freebase

1 of 2

verb

free·​base ˈfrē-ˌbās How to pronounce freebase (audio)
freebased; freebasing; freebases

intransitive verb

: to prepare or use freebase cocaine

transitive verb

: to prepare or use (cocaine) as freebase
freebaser noun

freebase

2 of 2

noun

: a purified solid form of cocaine (such as crack) that is obtained by treating the powdered hydrochloride of cocaine with an alkaloid base (such as sodium bicarbonate) and that can be smoked or heated to produce vapors for inhalation
specifically : a form derived from treatment of the hydrochloride of cocaine with ammonia or similar alkaloid solution followed by extraction with a solvent (such as ether)

Examples of freebase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
She ping-ponged from freebasing cocaine to tripping on the stronger drug of evangelical religion. Dory Jackson, Peoplemag, 24 Oct. 2023 If that’s the case, the Roy children have been freebasing those toxins their entire lives. Vulture, 10 Apr. 2023 Despite his fears, David continued to freebase on his ’84 solo tour. Edward Kiersh, SPIN, 11 Feb. 2023 Jack tells Spencer that Paul and Pat want to trade him for big man Bob McAdoo, triggering Spencer’s own paranoia and leading him to freebase cocaine. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2022 The maladjusted lothario also has many a dalliance with a particular strain of misogyny: the cutting and manipulative digs at past lovers that some of the rapper’s fans rush to freebase. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 6 July 2018 She was taught to freebase cocaine in the late 1980s by her brother Michael. Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2017
Noun
But in its freebase form, cocaine can also be smoked thanks to a lower boiling point. Troy Farah, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2022 During recesses in the trial, Nash would go out to his car and smoke freebase. Mike Sager, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2021 For much of the next 15 years, Crosby anesthetized himself with heroin and freebase cocaine, doing significant harm to both his musical relationships and his relationship to music. Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, 24 July 2019 Big Tobacco discovered decades ago that freebase nicotine makes puffing on a cigar much harsher than inhaling cigarette smoke. Rachel Becker, The Verge, 21 Nov. 2018 Juul uses nicotine salts, which are more potent than the freebase nicotine in standard e-cigarettes. The Economist, 24 May 2018 In Juul, these nicotine salts are absorbed into the body at almost the same speed as nicotine in regular cigarettes, a speed that comes from the use of freebase nicotine. Julia Belluz, Vox, 18 May 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'freebase.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1980, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1979, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of freebase was in 1979

Dictionary Entries Near freebase

Cite this Entry

“Freebase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freebase. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

freebase

1 of 2 verb
free·​base ˈfrē-ˌbās How to pronounce freebase (audio)
: to prepare or use cocaine as freebase

freebase

2 of 2 noun
: solid cocaine without impurities that can be heated to produce vapors for inhalation or smoked as crack

Medical Definition

freebase

1 of 2 verb
free·​base ˈfrē-ˌbās How to pronounce freebase (audio)
freebased; freebasing

intransitive verb

: to prepare or use freebase cocaine

transitive verb

: to prepare or use (cocaine) as freebase
freebaser noun

freebase

2 of 2 noun
: purified solid cocaine (as crack) in a form that is obtained by treating the powdered hydrochloride of cocaine with an alkaloid base (as sodium bicarbonate) and that can be smoked or heated to produce vapors for inhalation
specifically : cocaine derived from its hydrochloride by treatment with ammonia or a similar alkaloid solution followed by extraction with a solvent (as ether)

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