Anesthetic: meaning, definitions and examples

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anesthetic

 

[ ˌæn.ə'sθɛt.ɪk ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medical use

An anesthetic is a substance that induces insensitivity to pain. It is primarily used in medical procedures to prevent discomfort. Anesthetics can be applied locally, in which case they numb a specific area, or they can be administered systemically, leading to a loss of consciousness. They are crucial in surgeries to ensure patients do not feel pain during operations.

Synonyms

anesthesia, narcotic, pain reliever, sedative

Examples of usage

  • The surgeon administered an anesthetic before starting the operation.
  • Local anesthetics are commonly used in dental procedures.
  • The anesthetic wore off after a couple of hours.
  • She was nervous about receiving general anesthetic for her surgery.

Translations

Translations of the word "anesthetic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 anestésico

🇮🇳 एनस्थेटिक

🇩🇪 Anästhetikum

🇮🇩 anestesi

🇺🇦 анестетик

🇵🇱 środek znieczulający

🇯🇵 麻酔薬

🇫🇷 anesthésique

🇪🇸 anestésico

🇹🇷 anestezik

🇰🇷 마취제

🇸🇦 مخدر

🇨🇿 anestetikum

🇸🇰 anestetikum

🇨🇳 麻醉药

🇸🇮 anestezik

🇮🇸 aðgerðalyf

🇰🇿 анестетик

🇬🇪 ანესთეზია

🇦🇿 anestezik

🇲🇽 anestésico

Word origin

The term 'anesthetic' originates from the Greek word 'anaisthesis', meaning 'lack of sensation'. The prefix 'an-' signifies 'without', while 'aisthesis' relates to sense or perception. The first use of anesthetics in medicine dates back to the mid-19th century, with the introduction of ether and nitrous oxide as agents for inducing unconsciousness during surgery. These developments significantly revolutionized surgery by allowing for pain-free operations, and the field of anesthesia has continued to evolve over the years with the introduction of various anesthetic agents and the establishment of anesthesia as a recognized medical specialty.