/ˌænɪsˈθetɪk ||; ˌænəsˈθɛtɪk/(US 美 anesthetic) noun [C,U] a substance that stops you feeling pain, for example when a doctor is performing a medical operation on you 麻醉剂: You'll need to be under anaesthetic for the operation. 你动手术，需要先接受麻醉。The dentist gave me a local anaesthetic (= one that only affects part of the body and does not make you unconscious). 牙科医生对我施行局部麻醉。Did you have a general anaesthetic (= one that makes you unconscious) for your operation? 你动手术时施行全身麻醉了吗？