freebase
1 of 2verb
free·base ˈfrē-ˌbās 
freebased; freebasing; freebases
intransitive verb
: to prepare or use freebase cocaine
transitive verb
: to prepare or use (cocaine) as freebase
freebaser noun
freebase
2 of 2noun
: a purified solid form of cocaine (such as crack) that is obtained by treating the powdered hydrochloride of cocaine with an alkaloid base (such as sodium bicarbonate) and that can be smoked or heated to produce vapors for inhalation
specifically : a form derived from treatment of the hydrochloride of cocaine with ammonia or similar alkaloid solution followed by extraction with a solvent (such as ether)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2022 The maladjusted lothario also has many a dalliance with a particular strain of misogyny: the cutting and manipulative digs at past lovers that some of the rapper’s fans rush to freebase. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 6 July 2018 She was taught to freebase cocaine in the late 1980s by her brother Michael. Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2017 Mike Sager, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2021 For much of the next 15 years, Crosby anesthetized himself with heroin and freebase cocaine, doing significant harm to both his musical relationships and his relationship to music. Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, 24 July 2019 Big Tobacco discovered decades ago that freebase nicotine makes puffing on a cigar much harsher than inhaling cigarette smoke. Rachel Becker, The Verge, 21 Nov. 2018 Juul uses nicotine salts, which are more potent than the freebase nicotine in standard e-cigarettes. The Economist, 24 May 2018 In Juul, these nicotine salts are absorbed into the body at almost the same speed as nicotine in regular cigarettes, a speed that comes from the use of freebase nicotine. Julia Belluz, Vox, 18 May 2018 See More
Verb
Jack tells Spencer that Paul and Pat want to trade him for big man Bob McAdoo, triggering Spencer’s own paranoia and leading him to freebase cocaine. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2022 The maladjusted lothario also has many a dalliance with a particular strain of misogyny: the cutting and manipulative digs at past lovers that some of the rapper’s fans rush to freebase. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 6 July 2018 She was taught to freebase cocaine in the late 1980s by her brother Michael. Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2017 Noun
During recesses in the trial, Nash would go out to his car and smoke freebase. Mike Sager, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2021 For much of the next 15 years, Crosby anesthetized himself with heroin and freebase cocaine, doing significant harm to both his musical relationships and his relationship to music. Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, 24 July 2019 Big Tobacco discovered decades ago that freebase nicotine makes puffing on a cigar much harsher than inhaling cigarette smoke. Rachel Becker, The Verge, 21 Nov. 2018 Juul uses nicotine salts, which are more potent than the freebase nicotine in standard e-cigarettes. The Economist, 24 May 2018 In Juul, these nicotine salts are absorbed into the body at almost the same speed as nicotine in regular cigarettes, a speed that comes from the use of freebase nicotine. Julia Belluz, Vox, 18 May 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
Verb
1980, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Noun
1979, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
freebase 1 of 2
verb
free·base ˈfrē-ˌbās
freebased; freebasing
intransitive verb
: to prepare or use freebase cocaine
transitive verb
: to prepare or use (cocaine) as freebase
freebase
2 of 2noun
: purified solid cocaine (as crack) in a form that is obtained by treating the powdered hydrochloride of cocaine with an alkaloid base (as sodium bicarbonate) and that can be smoked or heated to produce vapors for inhalation
specifically : cocaine derived from its hydrochloride by treatment with ammonia or a similar alkaloid solution followed by extraction with a solvent (as ether)