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. See anaesthetic
   the usual US spelling of anaesthetic

anesthetic

/ ăn′ĭs-thĕt′ĭk /

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 Words From

• 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 adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anesthetic¹

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

Example Sentences

In our recent study, we showed that the function of this source of the brain’s dopamine is impaired in patients with disorders of consciousness and also in healthy people after the administration of an anesthetic.

From Singularity Hub 

Moreover, their activities can be suppressed by the same anesthetics that are used on people.

From Washington Post

The anesthetics the scientists used, which included some that are used on people, deactivated electric activity in the plants so that the traps no longer reacted when they were touched.

From Nautilus

It’s helped a lot that the drug, approved as a general anesthetic in 1970, is easy to get—unlike more heavily regulated compounds like LSD or psilocybin.

From Popular-Science

You can also talk to a doctor about topical anesthetics, which can numb the injection area.

From Time

And I have to have whiskey because alcohol is both an antiseptic and an anesthetic.

From The Daily Beast

“Cocaine specifically is still used as a topical anesthetic,” says John Halpern.

From The Daily Beast

He said that the Islamic court had ordered it, but mercifully allowed him a local anesthetic before.

From The Daily Beast

He only took cash, and he charged more for bigger babies and additional anesthetic, according to the report.

From The Daily Beast

One last question: how did The Times obtain that data on Iranian anesthetic stockpiles?

From The Daily Beast

Give plenty of anesthetic, just as if he seemed fully conscious.

From Project Gutenberg

Tropacocaine may replace cocaine in every case as an anesthetic.

From Project Gutenberg

The man is infallible—and the anesthetic revelation plays a part as in no writer.

From Project Gutenberg

The most unfair, last word to describe religious faith is the word anesthetic.

From Project Gutenberg

When she came from under the anesthetic, her father was holding her hand and he spoke to her in just such a tone.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• opiate