Dictionary

nootropic en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˌnoʊəˈtɹɑːpɪk/ (US)
• /ˌnoʊəˈtɹoʊpɪk/ (US)

Etymology

Coined by Romanian psychologist and chemist Corneliu E. Giurgea in 1972, derived from the Ancient Greek words νόος (nóos, “mind”) and τροπέω (tropéō, “to turn”). By surface analysis, noo(s) + -tropic, literally “mind changing”.

Meanings

1. Relating to substances that enhance cognitive performance.
   • It's triggered and explosion of “functional” drinks featuring adaptogenic and nootropic ingredients; plants that in some cases have been used for thousands of years to boost mood and cognitive performance. 2023 May 28, Alice Lascelles, “What’s the buzz?”, in HTSI, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 61:

Forms

nootropic en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˌnoʊəˈtɹɑːpɪk/ (US)
• /ˌnoʊəˈtɹoʊpɪk/ (US)

Etymology

Coined by Romanian psychologist and chemist Corneliu E. Giurgea in 1972, derived from the Ancient Greek words νόος (nóos, “mind”) and τροπέω (tropéō, “to turn”). By surface analysis, noo(s) + -tropic, literally “mind changing”.

Meanings

1. Any substance purported to increase or enhance cognitive abilities.
   • Nootropics also include extracted and purified components of medicinal plants, as well as substances synthesized from chemical precursors, such as piracetam, the world's first official nootropic (piracetam was created in 1964 in Belgium by a team of scientists whose leader, Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea, coined the term). 2012 January 30, Ari LeVaux, “Experimenting With Nootropics to Increase Mental Capacity, Clarity”, in The Atlantic:
2. A drug that enhances learning and memory and lacks the usual pharmacology of other psychotropic drugs (e.g. sedation, motor stimulation) and possesses very few side effects and extremely low toxicity.

Forms

Hyponyms

piracetam · caffeine

Relateds

psychotropic

Synonyms

smart drug · memory enhancer