Definition

A chemical compound used as a local anesthetic to numb specific areas of the body during medical procedures.

Example

The doctor applied tetracaine to the patient's skin before the minor surgery to ensure they wouldn't feel any pain.

Conversation

I heard that tetracaine is really effective for numbing pain.

Yeah, it's often used by doctors for local anesthesia.

I wonder if it works faster than other anesthetics.

It usually does, especially in minor procedures.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tetracaine is formed from "tetra-" (meaning four) and "cain" (derived from the chemical suffix used in local anesthetics, related to cocaine). The word refers to a local anesthetic that is a derivative of cocaine and has four carbon atoms in its structure.

Memory Tip

Think of 'four' ('tetra-') in the name, which helps you remember that tetracaine is a type of anesthetic related to cocaine.

Visually Confused Words