anesthesia

noun an·es·the·sia \ˌa-nəs-ˈthē-zhə\

medical : loss of feeling in a person's body or part of the body through the use of drugs

Full Definition of ANESTHESIA

: loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness

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Origin of ANESTHESIA

New Latin, from Greek anaisthēsia insensibility, from a- + aisthēsis perception, from aisthanesthai to perceive — more at audible

First Known Use: circa 1721

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with ANESTHESIA

Austronesia, Indonesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, paramnesia, Polynesia

ANESTHESIA Defined for Kids

anesthesia

noun an·es·the·sia \ˌa-nəs-ˈthē-zhə\

Definition of ANESTHESIA for Kids

: loss of feeling in all or part of the body with or without loss of consciousness <The patient was given an injection before surgery to produce anesthesia.>

Medical Dictionary

anesthesia

noun an·es·the·sia

Medical Definition of ANESTHESIA

: loss of sensation especially to touch usually resulting from a lesion in the nervous system or from some other abnormality

: loss of sensation and usually of consciousness without loss of vital functions artificially produced by the administration of one or more agents that block the passage of pain impulses along nerve pathways to the brain