Definition

A white, odorless, and tasteless substance used to numb a specific area of the body during medical procedures.

Example

The dentist applied benzocaine to numb my gums before the procedure.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of benzocaine?

Yeah, isn't it that stuff used for numbing pain?

Exactly! I read it's often used in dental procedures.

That makes sense. It's good to know there are options for local anesthesia.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Benzocaine is formed from "benz" (derived from the word 'benzene', a chemical compound) and "-caine" (from the suffix used in local anesthetics, derived from 'cocaine'). The word refers to a chemical compound used as a local anesthetic derived from benzene.

Memory Tip

Think of 'benz' as relating to a chemical compound and '-caine' as indicating a type of anesthetic. This helps you remember that benzocaine is a chemical used for numbing.

Visually Confused Words