anesthetic
or an·aes·thet·ic
[ an-uh s-thet-ik ]
/ ˌæn əsˈθɛt ɪk /
noun
a substance that produces anesthesia, as halothane, procaine, or ether.
adjective
pertaining to or causing physical insensibility: an anesthetic gas.
physically insensitive: Halothane is used to produce an anesthetic state.
Origin of anesthetic
OTHER WORDS FROM anesthetic
an·es·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb non·an·es·thet·ic, adjective, noun post·an·es·thet·ic, adjective sem·i·an·es·thet·ic, adjectiveWords nearby anesthetic
Definition for anaesthetic (2 of 2)
OTHER WORDS FROM anaesthesia
an·aes·thet·ic [an-uh s-thet-ik] /ˌæn əsˈθɛt ɪk/, adjective, noun an·aes·the·tist [uh-nes-thi-tist or, esp. British, uh-nees-] /əˈnɛs θɪ tɪst or, esp. British, əˈnis-/, noun sem·i·an·aes·thet·ic, adjectiveExample sentences from the Web for anaesthetic
British Dictionary definitions for anaesthetic (1 of 3)
anaesthetic
US anesthetic
/ (ˌænɪsˈθɛtɪk) /
noun
a substance that causes anaesthesia
adjective
causing or characterized by anaesthesia
British Dictionary definitions for anaesthetic (2 of 3)
British Dictionary definitions for anaesthetic (3 of 3)
anaesthesia
US anesthesia
/ (ˌænɪsˈθiːzɪə) /
noun
local or general loss of bodily sensation, esp of touch, as the result of nerve damage or other abnormality
loss of sensation, esp of pain, induced by drugs: called general anaesthesia when consciousness is lost and local anaesthesia when only a specific area of the body is involved
a general dullness or lack of feeling
Word Origin for anaesthesia
C19: from New Latin, from Greek
anaisthēsia absence of sensation, from
an- +
aisthēsis feeling
Medical definitions for anaesthetic
anesthetic
[ ăn′ĭs-thĕt′ĭk ]
n.
An agent that reversibly depresses neuronal function, producing total or partial loss of sensation.
adj.
Characterized by the loss of sensation.
Capable of producing a loss of sensation.
Associated with or due to the state of anesthesia.
Other words from anesthetic
an′es•thet′i•cal•ly adv.Scientific definitions for anaesthetic
anesthetic
[ ăn′ĭs-thĕt′ĭk ]
A drug that temporarily depresses neuronal function, producing total or partial loss of sensation with or without the loss of consciousness.
Cultural definitions for anaesthetic
anesthetic
[ (an-is-thet-ik) ]
A substance that causes loss of sensation or consciousness. With the aid of an anesthetic, people can undergo surgery without pain. (See general anesthetic and local anesthetic.)