general anaesthetic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Medical / Formal / Everyday
Quick answer
What does “general anaesthetic” mean?
A substance or mixture of gases that causes complete loss of sensation and consciousness throughout the entire body.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A substance or mixture of gases that causes complete loss of sensation and consciousness throughout the entire body.
The medical procedure or state of being rendered completely unconscious and insensible to pain for surgery.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: BrE 'anaesthetic', AmE 'anesthetic'. The phrase is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral medical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparably frequent; slightly more common in medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “general anaesthetic” in a Sentence
[patient] was/will be under [a] general anaesthetic[doctor] administered [a] general anaesthetic[surgery] requires [a] general anaestheticVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “general anaesthetic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The anaesthetist will anaesthetise the patient generally.
American English
- The anesthesiologist will anesthetize the patient generally.
adverb
British English
- The patient was anaesthetised generally.
American English
- The patient was anesthetized generally.
adjective
British English
- She underwent a general anaesthetic procedure.
American English
- She underwent a general anesthetic procedure.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in pharmaceutical or medical device contexts.
Academic
Common in medical, nursing, and pharmacological literature.
Everyday
Common when discussing upcoming surgeries or medical experiences.
Technical
Standard term in anaesthesiology, surgery, and perioperative care.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “general anaesthetic”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “general anaesthetic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “general anaesthetic”
- Incorrect article: '*under general anaesthetic' (non-count) vs. 'under a general anaesthetic' (countable instance). Both are acceptable.
- Spelling: Using 'anesthetic' in British English contexts.
- Confusion with 'sedative' or 'painkiller'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be used both ways. Non-count: 'The surgery was performed under general anaesthetic.' Countable: 'He was given a general anaesthetic.'
General anaesthetic causes complete loss of consciousness and the inability to feel pain or move. Sedation (or conscious sedation) makes you drowsy and relaxed but you are not fully unconscious and may remember some of the procedure.
In American English, it is spelled 'general anesthetic' (without the 'a' after the 'n').
In most countries, it is administered by a specially trained doctor called an anaesthetist (UK) or anesthesiologist (US), often assisted by a nurse anaesthetist.
A substance or mixture of gases that causes complete loss of sensation and consciousness throughout the entire body.
General anaesthetic is usually medical / formal / everyday in register.
General anaesthetic: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒenrəl ˌænəsˈθetɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒenrəl ˌænəsˈθetɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go under the knife (under general anaesthetic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GENERAL' means 'all over' + 'ANAESTHETIC' means 'no feeling'. So it takes away feeling generally/all over your body.
Conceptual Metaphor
A JOURNEY (into unconsciousness and back), A CONTROLLED TEMPORARY DEATH, A GATEWAY (to pain-free surgery).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a general anaesthetic?