anesthetic

Or an·aes·thet·ic

[an-uhs-thet-ik]

noun

1. a substance that produces anesthesia, as halothane, procaine, or ether.

adjective

1. pertaining to or causing physical insensibility.

   an anesthetic gas.

2. physically insensitive.

   Halothane is used to produce an anesthetic state.

anesthetic

/ ˌænɪsˈθɛtɪk /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of anaesthetic

anesthetic

1. A drug that temporarily depresses neuronal function, producing total or partial loss of sensation with or without the loss of consciousness.

anesthetic

1. 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.)

Other Word Forms

• anesthetically adverb
• nonanesthetic adjective
• postanesthetic adjective
• semianesthetic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anesthetic¹

1840–50, < Greek anaísthēt ( os ) without feeling, senseless + -ic; an- ¹, aesthetic

Example Sentences

Ketamine is typically used as an anesthetic but has grown in popularity over the last decade as a therapeutic treatment for specific mental health diagnoses, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

From Los Angeles Times

Ketamine is typically used as an anesthetic but has grown in popularity over the last decade as a therapeutic treatment for certain mental health diagnoses, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

From Los Angeles Times

Carfentanil is a schedule II synthetic drug with a similar chemical as fentanyl and is used in Wildnil, an anesthetic for elephants, according to the National Library of Medicine.

From Los Angeles Times

Plasencia admitted in the agreement that he spoke to the actor by phone and continued to exchange texts with Perry about the request for ketamine, a legal medication commonly used as an anesthetic.

From Los Angeles Times

She spent six hours in surgery and lost five litres of blood - all while under local anesthetic.

From BBC

Related Words

• opiate