DEPENDENCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does dependence mean? 

• DEPENDENCE (noun)
  The noun DEPENDENCE has 2 senses:

1. the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else

2. being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)

  Familiarity information: DEPENDENCE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEPENDENCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

dependance; dependence; dependency

Hypernyms ("dependence" is a kind of...):

state (the way something is with respect to its main attributes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dependence"):

helplessness (the state of needing help from something)

reliance (the state of relying on something)

subordination (the state of being subordinate to something)

contingency (the state of being contingent on something)

Derivation:

dependent (relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

addiction; dependance; dependence; dependency; habituation

Hypernyms ("dependence" is a kind of...):

physical condition; physiological condition; physiological state (the condition or state of the body or bodily functions)

Domain category:

narcotic (a drug that produces numbness or stupor; often taken for pleasure or to reduce pain; extensive use can lead to addiction)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dependence"):

drug addiction; white plague (an addiction to a drug (especially a narcotic drug))

Derivation:

dependent (addicted to a drug)

 Context examples 

Alphaprodine mimics the actions of endogenous neuropeptides by binding to opioid receptors, thereby producing characteristic morphine-like effects via the mu-opioid receptor, including analgesia, euphoria, sedation, respiratory depression, miosis, bradycardia, and physical dependence.

(Alphaprodine Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

Her displeasure, her penetration, and her happiness were all fearful to encounter; and the dependence of having others present when they met was Fanny's only support in looking forward to it.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

In addition, with chronic use, levomethadyl acetate hydrochloride produces cross-tolerance to the effects of other mu-receptor agonists, thereby decreasing the physical dependence.

(Levomethadyl Acetate Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

This drug causes dependence and may cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

(Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

(looking round with the most good-humoured dependence on every body's assent)—Do not you all think I shall?

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

If you have been struggling to end a dependence on a drug or cigarettes, you may now successfully find help.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

With a yet sweeter smile, he said everything that need be said of his sister's concern, regret, and dependence on Catherine's honour.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The reversal of the two natures, in their relative positions, Uriah's of power and Mr. Wickfield's of dependence, was a sight more painful to me than I can express.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

This leads to analgesia, euphoria, respiratory depression, miosis, decreased gastrointestinal motility, cough suppression and physical dependence.

(Hydrocodone, NCI Thesaurus)

This reproach of my dependence had become a vague sing-song in my ear: very painful and crushing, but only half intelligible.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)