anesthetic

¹an·es·thet·ic

adjective \ˌa-nəs-ˈthe-tik\

Definition of ANESTHETIC

1

: of, relating to, or capable of producing anesthesia

2

: lacking awareness or sensitivity <was anesthetic to their feelings>

— an·es·thet·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

First Known Use of ANESTHETIC

1823

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with ANESTHETIC

alphabetic, apathetic, arithmetic, asyndetic, copacetic, diabetic, diarrhetic, diathetic, dietetic, digenetic, diphyletic, diuretic, empathetic, energetic, epithetic, geodetic, homiletic, Masoretic, nomothetic, sympathetic, synergetic, synesthetic

²anesthetic

noun

Definition of ANESTHETIC

1

: a substance that produces anesthesia

2

: something that brings relief : palliative

Examples of ANESTHETIC

1. The doctor gave him the stitches without an anesthetic.
2. <the dentist waited until the anesthetic took effect>

First Known Use of ANESTHETIC

1845

Related to ANESTHETIC

Synonyms

analgesic, painkiller, anodyne

Related Words

sedative, tranquilizer (also tranquillizer); narcotic, opiate

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with ANESTHETIC

diabetic, diuretic, sympathetic

anesthetic

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Agent that produces a local or general loss of sensation, including pain, and therefore is useful in surgery and dentistry. General anesthesia induces loss of consciousness, most often using hydrocarbons (e.g., cyclopropane, ethylene); halogenated (see halogen) hydrocarbons (e.g., chloroform, ethyl chloride, trichloroethylene); ethers (e.g., ethyl ether or vinyl ether); or other compounds, such as tribromoethanol, nitrous oxide, or barbiturates. Local anesthesia induces loss of sensation in one area of the body by blocking nerve conduction (see nervous system, neuron), usually with alkaloids such as cocaine or synthetic substitutes (e.g., lidocaine). See also anesthesiology.