an·es·thet·ic (US) or Brit an·aes·thet·ic 
/ˌænəsˈθɛtɪk/ noun
plural an·es·thet·ics /ˌænəsˈθɛtɪk/ noun [count] medical : a drug that causes a person to lose feeling and to feel no pain in part or all of the body
▪ The doctor gave him the stitches without an anesthetic. ▪ The surgery required a general anesthetic. [=a drug that makes a person unconscious and unable to feel pain] ▪ a local anesthetic [=a drug that makes a part of the body unable to feel pain]
▪ The doctor gave him the stitches without an anesthetic. ▪ The surgery required a general anesthetic. [=a drug that makes a person unconscious and unable to feel pain] ▪ a local anesthetic [=a drug that makes a part of the body unable to feel pain]
— anesthetic (US) or Brit anaesthetic adjective
▪ the anesthetic properties of a drug
▪ the anesthetic properties of a drug
