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anaesthesia

American  
[an-uhs-thee-zhuh] / ˌæn əsˈθi ʒə /

noun

Medicine/Medical, Pathology.
  1. anesthesia.


anaesthesia British  
/ ˌænɪsˈθiːzɪə /

noun

  1. local or general loss of bodily sensation, esp of touch, as the result of nerve damage or other abnormality

  2. 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

  3. a general dullness or lack of feeling

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • anaesthetic adjective
  • anaesthetist noun
  • semianaesthetic adjective

Etymology

Origin of anaesthesia

C19: from New Latin, from Greek anaisthēsia absence of sensation, from an- + aisthēsis feeling

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Gilby, who had previously been a medic, a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care, hoped she had several years to go working for the health service before she was forced out.

From BBC

He said the method avoided the risks of general anaesthesia and the subsequent recovery, meaning "you can treat these conditions more often".

From BBC

The research, published in the journal Music and Medicine, offers some of the strongest evidence yet that music played during general anaesthesia can modestly but meaningfully reduce drug requirements and improve recovery.

From BBC

They are also highly sensitive to anaesthesia and so cannot be kept sedated for long, a result of their unique build -- "the heart to the brain is quite long," Mijele explained.

From Barron's

The crime sent shockwaves through the system, prompting one insurance company to reverse a controversial plan to limit anaesthesia coverage, and hit the share prices of major firms.

From BBC