1. to administer an anesthetic to; to make insensible to pain
Usage: British spelling; American equivalent is 'anesthetize'; commonly used in medical contexts
2. to make insensible or unresponsive; to dull the senses or emotions of
Usage: figurative use

Examples

• The dentist will anaesthetise your tooth before filling the cavity.
• The surgeon anaesthetised the patient before beginning the operation.
• Repeated exposure to violence can anaesthetise people to its effects.
• The medication was used to anaesthetise the area around the wound.
• Years of routine work seemed to anaesthetise her to the beauty around her.
• Local anesthetic was applied to anaesthetise the skin before the injection.