noun
anesthetic
a-nuhs-THEH-tihk
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.”
noun
1
A drug used to stop pain or cause unconsciousness for a medical procedure.
"The surgeon administered the anesthetic before making the first incision."
"A local anesthetic numbed the area around the wound."
adj
1
Causing loss of sensation or reducing pain.
"The cream has a mild anesthetic effect on sore muscles."
How to use anesthetic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the pain-blocking drug itself, or an adjective describing something that blocks pain.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
local anesthetic
general anesthetic
anesthetic gas
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Word forms
- Plural
- anesthetics
- Comparative
- more anesthetic
- Superlative
- most anesthetic
- Adjective
- anesthetical
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The surgeon administered the _____ before making the first incision.
Etymology
From Greek an- ("without") + aisthetikos ("able to feel") — describing something that removes feeling.
Synonyms
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anaesthetic
anesthetic agent
anaesthetic agent
Rhymes for anesthetic
See all 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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