n. an opioid *analgesic drug used mainly for pain relief during surgery (see opiate).
1. n. a drug that relieves pain. Nonopioid analgesics, such as *aspirin and *paracetamol, are used for the relief of headache, toothache, and mild rheumatic pain. More potent opioid analgesics, such as *morphine, *pethidine, *alfentanil, and *buprenorphine, are used to relieve moderate or severe pain; these drugs may produce *dependence and *tolerance (see opiate). Some analgesics, including aspirin and *indometacin, also reduce fever and inflammation and are used in rheumatic and other inflammatory conditions (see NSAID). 2. adj. relieving pain.... analgesic
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