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noun Uncommon

anesthesia

an-uhs-THEEZ-ee-uh

Anesthesia (noun) means a medically induced state in which a patient cannot feel pain, used during surgery or other procedures. Example: “She woke up an hour after the anesthesia wore off.”

noun
1
A medically induced state in which a patient cannot feel pain, used during surgery or other procedures.
"She woke up an hour after the anesthesia wore off."
"The dentist used local anesthesia before pulling the tooth."
2
The loss of sensation itself, whether caused deliberately by medicine or by nerve damage.
"The nerve injury left a patch of anesthesia across his forearm."

How to Use Anesthesia

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe medical process (or drug) that blocks pain, used so patients don't feel surgery happening.

UK vs US

Spelled "anaesthesia" in British English, "anesthesia" in American English.

Common pairings
general anesthesia local anesthesia under anesthesia administer anesthesia

Word Forms

anesthesias plural

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Fill the Gap

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She woke up an hour after the _____ wore off.

Etymology

From Greek an- ("without") + aisthesis ("sensation") — literally "no feeling."

Origin: Greek

Rhymes for anesthesia

See all rhymes for anesthesia →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “anesthesia” mean?

The word “anesthesia” means a medically induced state in which a patient cannot feel pain, used during surgery or other procedures. In plain terms, the medical process (or drug) that blocks pain, used so patients don't feel surgery happening.

How do you pronounce “anesthesia”?

“Anesthesia” is pronounced an-uhs-THEEZ-ee-uh (/ˌæn.əsˈθi.ʒə/ in IPA).

How do you use “anesthesia” in a sentence?

Here is “anesthesia” used in a sentence: “She woke up an hour after the anesthesia wore off.”

What part of speech is “anesthesia”?

“Anesthesia” is a noun.

Where does the word “anesthesia” come from?

The word “anesthesia” comes from Greek. From Greek an- ("without") + aisthesis ("sensation") — literally "no feeling.".

Is “anesthesia” a common word?

“Anesthesia” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “anesthesia” have?

“Anesthesia” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a medically induced state in which a patient cannot feel pain, used during surgery or other procedures.

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