Catnip

Definitions

1. Any of the about 250 species of flowering plant of the genus Nepeta, family Lamiaceae, certain of which are said to have medicinal qualities.
   countable, uncountable
2. Nepeta cataria and Nepeta grandiflora (and perhaps other species), which are well-known for causing an apparently harmless pheromone-based intoxication among certain cats.
   countable, uncountable
3. Something that causes excitement or interest.
   countable, figuratively, uncountable

Equivalents

21 more languages

العربيةالنّعناع البرّيّ

Catalàherba gateranepta

Češtinašanta kočičí

Cymraegmintys y gath

Esperantokatherbo

Euskarakatu-belar

Suomiaitokissanminttukissanminttu

Gaeilgemiontas cait

Magyarmacskamenta

Italianoerba gatta

日本語イヌハッカイヌハッカ属

한국어개박하

Latinanepeta

Македонскинепета

NederlandskattenkruidNepetawild kattenkruid

Polskikocimiętka

Portuguêserva-de-gatonêbeda

Românăcătușnică

Русскийкото́вник коша́чийкоша́чья мя́та

Svenskakattmynta

Türkçekedi nanesi

Examples

“Some cats go bonkers over catnip; others ignore⟳ it.”

“But exactly how catnip—and a substitute, known as silver vine—produce⟳ this feline high has long been a mystery. Now, a study⟳ suggests the key intoxicating chemicals in the plants activate cats’ opioid systems much like⟳ heroin and morphine do in people.”

“The language’s^([OCaml's]) rigor is like⟳ catnip to some people, though, giving Jane Street an unusual advantage in the tight hiring market for programmers.”

“Since Rupert Murdoch famously bet⟳ the farm on Premier League football to rescue⟳ Sky TV in 1991, it has been the catnip that has underpinned subscriber loyalty and, even in a far more complicated media landscape, is seen as so vital as to be worth almost any price.”

“Unlike IPOs, however, ICOs are catnip for scammers.”

“This hot new Shoreditch trattoria already is catnip for the style set⟳.”

“While some might see⟳ xAI’s new anime avatars as a harmless experiment⟳, they’re emotional catnip for vulnerable users.”

CEFR level