anesthetize

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Explanation of "Anesthetize"

Definition:
To "anesthetize" means to give a medicine (called an anesthetic) that makes a person or animal unable to feel pain. This is usually done before surgeries or medical procedures so that the patient does not feel anything during the operation.

Advanced Usage

• The word can also be used in a more figurative way to mean to make someone emotionally numb or unaware of a situation. For example, "The constant stress at work can anesthetize a person to their feelings."

Word Variants

• Anesthesia (noun): The state of being unable to feel pain, or the practice of giving anesthetics.
  • Example: "The patient was under anesthesia during the operation."
• Anesthetic (noun): The drug used to cause anesthesia.
  • Example: "The anesthetic was effective in keeping the patient pain-free."

Different Meanings

• In a medical context, it refers specifically to pain relief or unconsciousness.
• In a broader context, it can refer to making someone indifferent or emotionally detached.

Synonyms

• Numb
• Sedate
• Insensitize
• Calm (in a figurative sense)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• There are no widely recognized idioms specifically using "anesthetize," but you might hear phrases like "numb to the pain" which can convey a similar figurative meaning.

Conclusion

"Anesthetize" is an important term in the medical field and is used to describe the process of making someone unable to feel pain. It can also be used metaphorically to describe emotional numbness.

Academic

Verb

1. administer an anesthetic drug to
   • The patient must be anesthetized before the operation
   • anesthetize the gum before extracting the teeth

Synonyms

• anaesthetize
• anesthetise
• anaesthetise
• put under
• put out