1. Causing sleep. 2. An agent that promotes sleep. SYN: soporific (2). 3. Relating to hypnotism. [G. hypnotikos, causing one to sleep]
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hyp·not·ic hip-'nät-ik adj
1) tending to produce sleep: SOPORIFIC
2) of or relating to hypnosis or hypnotism
hyp·not·i·cal·ly -i-k(ə-)lē adv
hypnotic n
1) a sleep-inducing agent: SOPORIFIC
2) one that is or can be hypnotized
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n.
a drug that produces sleep by depressing brain function. Hypnotics include benzodiazepines (such as nitrazepam and flurazepam) and some sedative antihistamine (e.g. promethazine). Hypnotics are used for the short-term treatment of insomnia and sleep disturbances. They often cause hangover effects in the morning.
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hyp·not·ic (hip-notґik) 1. inducing sleep. 2. an agent that induces sleep. 3. pertaining to or of the nature of hypnosis or hypnotism.Medical dictionary. 2011.