Catnip
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈkætnɪp/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Catnip is a noun meaning (figurative) Something that causes excitement or interest.
Meaning
(figurative) Something that causes excitement or interest.
More Meanings
- Any of the about 250 species of flowering plant of the genus Nepeta, family Lamiaceae, certain of which are said to have medicinal qualities.
- Nepeta cataria and Nepeta grandiflora (and perhaps other species), which are well-known for causing an apparently harmless pheromone-based intoxication among certain cats.
Example Sentences
Some cats go bonkers over catnip; others ignore it.
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.
Word Forms
- catnips
Synonyms for catnip
Depending on context, synonyms include catmint, catwort.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include catmint, cat nip, catnep, nepeta, catswort, catwort.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.