noun

ether

EE-ther/ˈiːθər/

An organic substance with oxygen linking two carbon groups.

Liquid ether drips onto gauze over the patient's nose and mouth.

A historical open-drop anesthetic scene foregrounding the clear liquid being dripped onto gauze over a reclining patient's nose and mouth.

Etymology

The name for bright, pure upper air was applied to the volatile liquid because of its lightness and lack of color. Its anesthetic properties were established later.

In context

MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics29:52

The patient is presumably getting drop ether anesthetic. Um and so you know the the operation can take as long as necessary

Peter Angelos, MD, PhD: "The Role of Surgical Ethics in the History of Surgery"

More examples

An ether has an oxygen atom linking two carbon groups.
Chemists use some ethers as solvents.
Diethyl ether evaporates quickly and catches fire easily.

Forms

ether · ethers