anesthetic
Anesthetic (noun) means a drug used to stop pain or cause unconsciousness for a medical procedure. Example: “The surgeon administered the anesthetic before making the first incision.”
How to use anesthetic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the pain-blocking drug itself, or an adjective describing something that blocks pain.
Word forms
anesthetical adjective, anesthetical adjective, more anesthetic comparative, anesthetics plural, most anesthetic superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The surgeon administered the _____ before making the first incision.
Etymology
From Greek an- ("without") + aisthetikos ("able to feel") — describing something that removes feeling.
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for anesthetic
Frequently asked questions
What does “anesthetic” mean?
The word “anesthetic” means a drug used to stop pain or cause unconsciousness for a medical procedure. In plain terms, either the pain-blocking drug itself, or an adjective describing something that blocks pain.
How do you pronounce “anesthetic”?
“Anesthetic” is pronounced a-nuhs-THEH-tihk (/ˌænəsˈθɛtɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “anesthetic” in a sentence?
Here is “anesthetic” used in a sentence: “The surgeon administered the anesthetic before making the first incision.”
What part of speech is “anesthetic”?
Depending on how it is used, “anesthetic” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “anesthetic” come from?
The word “anesthetic” comes from Greek. From Greek an- ("without") + aisthetikos ("able to feel") — describing something that removes feeling.
How many meanings does “anesthetic” have?
“Anesthetic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a drug used to stop pain or cause unconsciousness for a medical procedure.
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