Anesthetic

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌænÉ™sˈθɛtɪk/

Alternative forms

• anaesthetic

Origin

From Greek anaisthetos insensible.

Full definition of anesthetic

Adjective

1. Causing the reduction of pain sensitivity.

Noun

1. (medicine) A substance administered to reduce the perception of pain or to induce numbness. An anesthetic may or may not render the recipient unconscious, depending upon the type used.
• 1994, Anesthetics (Ophthalmic) (original version), Drugs.com:After a local anesthetic is applied to the eye, do not rub or wipe the eye until the anesthetic has worn off and feeling in the eye returns.
• 2004, Jacoby, David B. and Youngson, R. M., Encyclopedia of Famiy Health, Marshall Cavendish, pg. 91.Modern anesthetics can be divided into several different groups according to how and where they act to reduce pain.During premedication, the anesthetist may give a patient drugs that make him or her feel relaxed and drowsy before the actual general anesthetic is administered.

Related terms

• freezing