ANAESTHETIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does anaesthetic mean? 

• ANAESTHETIC (noun)
  The noun ANAESTHETIC has 1 sense:

1. a drug that causes temporary loss of bodily sensations

  Familiarity information: ANAESTHETIC used as a noun is very rare.

• ANAESTHETIC (adjective)
  The adjective ANAESTHETIC has 2 senses:

1. relating to or producing insensibility

2. characterized by insensibility

  Familiarity information: ANAESTHETIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ANAESTHETIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A drug that causes temporary loss of bodily sensations

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

anaesthetic; anaesthetic agent; anesthetic; anesthetic agent

Hypernyms ("anaesthetic" is a kind of...):

drug (a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "anaesthetic"):

general anaesthetic; general anesthetic (an anesthetic that anesthetizes the entire body and causes loss of consciousness)

intravenous anesthetic (an anesthetic that produces anesthesia when injected into the circulatory system)

local; local anaesthetic; local anesthetic; topical anaesthetic; topical anesthetic (anesthetic that numbs a particular area of the body)

spinal anaesthetic; spinal anesthetic (an anesthetic that is injected into the spine)

Derivation:

anaesthetic (characterized by insensibility)

anaesthetise; anaesthetize (administer an anesthetic drug to)

• ANAESTHETIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or producing insensibility

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

anaesthetic; anesthetic

Pertainym:

anaesthesia (loss of bodily sensation with or without loss of consciousness)

Derivation:

anaesthetize (administer an anesthetic drug to)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characterized by insensibility

Synonyms:

anaesthetic; anesthetic

Context example:

an anesthetic state

Similar:

insensible (incapable of physical sensation)

Derivation:

anaesthesia (loss of bodily sensation with or without loss of consciousness)

anaesthetic (a drug that causes temporary loss of bodily sensations)

 Context examples 

A fluorinated ether and very potent and stable general anaesthetic agent.

(Enflurane, NCI Thesaurus)

It also possesses some anticholinergic and local anaesthetic properties.

(Disopyramide Phosphate, NCI Thesaurus)

He breathed in the water deeply, deliberately, after the manner of a man taking an anaesthetic.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)