anesthetic
or an·aes·thet·ic
a substance that produces anesthesia, as halothane, procaine, or ether.
pertaining to or causing physical insensibility: an anesthetic gas.
physically insensitive: Halothane is used to produce an anesthetic state.
Origin of anesthetic
1Other words from anesthetic
- an·es·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb
- non·an·es·thet·ic, adjective, noun
- post·an·es·thet·ic, adjective
- sem·i·an·es·thet·ic, adjective
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British Dictionary definitions for anesthetic
/ (ˌænɪsˈθɛtɪk) /
the usual US spelling of anaesthetic
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for anesthetic
[ ăn′ĭs-thĕt′ĭk ]
A drug that temporarily depresses neuronal function, producing total or partial loss of sensation with or without the loss of consciousness.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for anesthetic
[ (an-is-thet-ik) ]
A substance that causes loss of sensation or consciousness. With the aid of an anesthetic, people can undergo surgery without pain. (See general anesthetic and local anesthetic.)
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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