anesthesia

noun

an·​es·​the·​sia ˌa-nəs-ˈthē-zhə 

1

: loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness

The patient was given intravenous medication to induce anesthesia.

… doctors freeze the tumor with little coils filled with liquid nitrogen that are inserted in the prostate under anesthesia.

—Andy Grove

Awareness during anesthesia is a serious complication with potential long-term psychological consequences.

—Michael S. Avidan et al.

We often radiograph dogs when they are under anesthesia for spaying or neutering or other routine procedures.

—Bonnie Wilcox

see also general anesthesia, local anesthesia

2

: an agent that produces anesthesia : anesthetic

A capnometer measures the amount of carbon dioxide in exhaled air, thereby insuring that the tubes bringing oxygen and anesthesia to the patient are properly placed.

—Lisa Belkin

She was still groggy from her anesthesia, and she had an I.V. tube in her arm.

—The New Yorker

These substances [=endorphins], which have been identified in recent years through research on brain chemistry, act as a natural anesthesia that can lessen extreme pain.

—Norman Cousins

Example Sentences

The patient was given an injection to induce anesthesia.

Recent Examples on the Web

Nathan’s father had died two years earlier from complications with anesthesia for an elective procedure and his loss was still fresh in everyone’s heart. —Dan Musgrave, Longreads, 9 May 2023

When that develops into periodontitis, the best treatment is a deep cleaning that is so painful, Li said, that even with anesthesia, dentists can only address one side of the mouth at a time. —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 May 2023

Though many obstetricians pushed against Aitken’s arguments for the use of the chainsaw when facing complications in childbirth, the Scottish Medical Journal reports Jeffray’s ideas for its use in the excision of joints became accepted, especially when paired with anesthesia. —Jacob Livesay, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2023

Takoda, the youngest black bear at the Oregon Zoo, died Friday from a heart attack while under anesthesia for a routine health check, according to a news release from the zoo. —The Oregonian, oregonlive, 9 Apr. 2023

The alcohol was equivalent to the amount of a beer, and the ketamine could have been given as anesthesia in the hospital, said Dr. Kendall Von Crowns, the chief medical examiner in Tarrant County, Texas. —Cheri Mossburg, CNN, 2 May 2023

The case was revived after an analysis of Franco's tissue samples found morphine and a powerful muscle relaxant used in anesthesia in her system. —CBS News, 25 Apr. 2023

Xylazine began appearing sporadically as an addictive substitute for heroin in the 2000s: In 2011, a study observed that people in farming areas of Puerto Rico were injecting horse anesthesia and developing serious lesions. —Jan Hoffman, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2023

In this population of women, the surgery might take slightly longer and require more anesthesia. —Dawn Stacey, Phd, Lmhc, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek anaisthēsia insensibility, from a- + aisthēsis perception, from aisthanesthai to perceive — more at audible

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing anesthesia

• local anesthesia
• general anesthesia

• local anesthesia
• general anesthesia

Kids Definition

anesthesia

noun

an·​es·​the·​sia ˌan-əs-ˈthē-zhə 

: loss of bodily sensation with or without loss of consciousness

Medical Definition

anesthesia

noun

an·​es·​the·​sia

variants or chiefly British anaesthesia

ˌan-əs-ˈthē-zhə 

1

: loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness that is artificially produced by the administration of one or more agents that block the passage of pain impulses along nerve pathways to the brain

… doctors freeze the tumor with little coils filled with liquid nitrogen that are inserted in the prostate under anesthesia.

—Andy Grove

Awareness during anesthesia is a serious complication with potential long-term psychological consequences.

—Michael S. Avidan et al.

see general anesthesia, local anesthesia

2

: loss of sensation especially to touch usually resulting from injury or disease

3

: an agent that produces anesthesia : anesthetic

During surgery, you will be given some form of anesthesia, which are medicines given to relieve pain and sensation during surgery.

—HopkinsMedicine.org

A capnometer measures the amount of carbon dioxide in exhaled air, thereby insuring that the tubes bringing oxygen and anesthesia to the patient are properly placed.

—Lisa Belkin