narc

English

Wikipedia

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: näk, IPA: /nɑːk/, X-SAMPA: /nA:k/
• (US) enPR: närk, IPA: /nɑːɹk/, X-SAMPA: /nA:r\k/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)k

Alternative forms

• nark

Etymology 1

Abbreviation of "narcotics officer" (narcotics sense only).

Noun

narc (plural narcs)

1. (slang) A narcotics squad police officer.

Translations

Translations

Etymology 2

Alternate spelling of nark, itself from Romani nak. The spelling narc is influenced by the first etymology deriving from the etymologically unrelated "narcotics officer" because of its similar association of spying on people.

Noun

narc (plural narcs)

1. (slang) Alternative spelling of nark (spy)

Verb

narc (third-person singular simple present narcs, present participle narcing, simple past and past participle narced)

1. (slang) Alternative spelling of nark. – to inform authorities of the illicit actions of others that one has knowledge of as an insider

   “If you narc on me, I’ll rip your arms off”, said Tim to his little brother, as he passed him a cigarette.

Synonyms

• rat out
• tattle

Translations

noun

• Romanian: turnător (ro) m

verb

• Romanian: a turna (ro)

Etymology 3

Short for "narcosis", etymologically related to the first etymology (from "narcotics officer") but instead referring to the medical condition nitrogen narcosis rather than to drugs.

Verb

narc (third-person singular simple present narcs, present participle narcing, simple past and past participle narced)

1. (slang) To suffer from impaired judgment due to nitrogen narcosis (e.g. while scuba diving).

Translations

Translations

See also

• stool pigeon

Anagrams

• carn, cran, cRNA, NRCA