cauterize

American  

[kaw-tuh-rahyz] / ˈkɔ təˌraɪz /

especially British, cauterise

verb (used with object)

cauterized, cauterizing

1. to burn with a hot iron, electric current, fire, or a caustic, especially for curative purposes; treat with a cautery.

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cauterize British  

/ ˈkɔːtəˌraɪz /

verb

1. (tr) (esp in the treatment of a wound) to burn or sear (body tissue) with a hot iron or caustic agent

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cauterize Scientific  

/ kô′tə-rīz′ /

1. To burn or sear with a cautery, as in surgical procedures.

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Other Word Forms

• cauterization noun
• uncauterized adjective

Etymology

Origin of cauterize

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin cautērizāre to brand, equivalent to cautēr- (< Greek kautḗr branding iron, equivalent to kau-, variant stem of kaíein to burn ( caustic ), + -tēr agent suffix) + -izāre -ize

Example Sentences

If any bleeding occurs during the polyp removal, doctors can cauterize the wound to seal it, but this method creates a scar that may delay the healing, and result in additional complications.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2024

"And then when things really come to a head, they try to cauterize the wound at the lowest level possible."

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2023

And no, the sheer repetitiveness of what is by now a well known pattern of conduct within the church should not cauterize the outrage nor inure lawmakers to the urgency of action.

From Washington Post • Nov. 13, 2021

The world of medical misinformation runs adjacent to our own, and when that world floods Facebook, Pinterest, etc., social media platforms deploy extremes to cauterize anti-vaccination campaigns and false advertisings illustrating the dangers of vaccination.

From Slate • Mar. 18, 2019

“I just thought you might have a few extra minutes to cauterize the inside of Jack’s nasal passages,” Mom said smoothly.

From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos