noun
narcosis
nar-KOH-sis/nɑːrˈkəʊsɪs/
A state of stupor or unconsciousness caused by drugs, gases, or pressure.
The anesthetic gas produces narcosis while the patient remains medically supervised.
Etymology
The pieces describe a state of being benumbed. In medical use, this became specifically the stupor or unconsciousness produced by a narcotic, rather than ordinary sleep.
In context
Some people just feel really intoxicated, like the same kind of feeling when they may be drunk too much. So this gas narcosis can cause
More examples
- The medication causes narcosis at very high doses.
- The anesthesiologist monitors the patient closely during narcosis.
- Exposure to concentrated solvent fumes can lead to narcosis.
Forms
narcosis · narcoses
narcotic adjective — Causing sleep, stupor, or unconsciousness.
Similar words
- stupor
- Reduced awareness that need not result from drugs or pressure.
- anesthesia
- Usually denotes loss of sensation, not necessarily loss of consciousness.