anesthetic

[an-uh s-thet-ik] /ˌæn əsˈθɛt ɪk/
noun
1.
a substance that produces anesthesia, as halothane, procaine, or ether.
adjective
2.
pertaining to or causing physical insensibility:
an anesthetic gas.
3.
physically insensitive:
Halothane is used to produce an anesthetic state.
Also, anaesthetic.
Origin
1840-50, Americanism; < Greek anaísthēt(os) without feeling, senseless + -ic; see an-1, esthetic
Related forms
anesthetically, adverb
nonanesthetic, adjective, noun
postanesthetic, adjective
semianesthetic, adjective
Examples from the web for anesthetic
  • Adults need only a local anesthetic for the procedure, though a general anesthetic is needed for children.
  • The drugs are commonly used as the first anesthetic with which to put a patient to sleep for surgical or dental procedures.
  • The dentist may apply a topical anesthetic to numb the area before beginning the procedure.
  • In antiquity, the mandrake's root and berry were used widely as an anesthetic.
  • Thus the notion that there is a single molecular mechanism of action for all anesthetic agents is probably an oversimplification.
  • It's not the anesthetic humor that makes days go by easier, it's humor that heightens contradictions.
  • Spicy compound clears the way for an anesthetic to silence pain sensation.
  • The surgery takes about eight minutes and is performed using only anesthetic eye drops.
  • More surprising, they required less anesthetic during surgery.
  • The half-hour technique is done under local anesthetic.
British Dictionary definitions for anesthetic

anaesthetic

/ˌænɪsˈθɛtɪk/
noun
1.
a substance that causes anaesthesia
adjective
2.
causing or characterized by anaesthesia

anesthetic

/ˌænɪsˈθɛtɪk/
noun, adjective
1.
the usual US spelling of anaesthetic
Word Origin and History for anesthetic
adj.

alternative spelling of anaesthetic (q.v.). See ae.

anesthetic in Medicine

anesthetic an·es·thet·ic (ān'ĭs-thět'ĭk)
n.
An agent that reversibly depresses neuronal function, producing total or partial loss of sensation. adj.

  1. Characterized by the loss of sensation.

  2. Capable of producing a loss of sensation.

  3. Associated with or due to the state of anesthesia.

an'es·thet'i·cal·ly adv.
anesthetic in Science
anesthetic
  (ān'ĭs-thět'ĭk)   
A drug that temporarily depresses neuronal function, producing total or partial loss of sensation with or without the loss of consciousness.
anesthetic in Culture
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.)