anesthetic Definition
a substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness, especially a drug used to prevent pain during surgery.
Using anesthetic: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "anesthetic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The dentist gave me an anesthetic before filling my cavity.
Example
The patient was put under general anesthetic for the surgery.
Example
The anesthetic wore off quickly, and I could feel the pain again.
anesthetic Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for anesthetic
Phrases with anesthetic
a drug that numbs only a small area of the body, often used in minor surgeries or dental procedures
Example
The doctor applied a local anesthetic to the area before stitching the wound.
a drug that puts the patient to sleep and causes a lack of feeling or awareness throughout the entire body, often used in major surgeries
Example
The patient was given a general anesthetic before the heart surgery.
a drug that is injected into the spinal fluid to numb the lower half of the body, often used in childbirth or lower body surgeries
Example
The woman opted for a spinal anesthetic instead of an epidural during labor.
Origins of anesthetic
from Greek 'an-', meaning 'without', and 'aisthēsis', meaning 'sensation'
Summary: anesthetic in Brief
An 'anesthetic' [ˌænəsˈθetɪk] is a substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness, especially a drug used to prevent pain during surgery. It can be administered locally, generally, or through the spinal fluid. Examples include 'The dentist gave me an anesthetic before filling my cavity.' and 'The patient was put under general anesthetic for the surgery.' Synonyms include 'painkiller' and 'sedative.'
