cauterize

[ kaw-tuh-rahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, cau·ter·ized, cau·ter·iz·ing.

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

cauterize

/ ˈkɔːtəˌraɪz /

verb

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

cauterize

/ kô′tə-rīz′ /

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

Derived Forms

• ˌcauteriˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• cauter·i·zation noun
• un·cauter·ized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cauterize¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cauterize¹

C14: from Old French cauteriser, from Late Latin cautērizāre, from cautērium branding iron, from Greek kautērion, from kaiein to burn

Example Sentences

Surgeons had to open his belly to repair his intestines and cauterize the ruptured blood vessels, leaving him with a scar that runs, like a median line, down the center of his abdomen.

From MIT Technology Review

It was rubber, Billy explained, so the heat of the bullet passing through would cauterize the hole and seal it up.

From The Daily Beast

Destroy the remnants of Government and cauterize the wound so that it will never re-infect again.

From Project Gutenberg

A few surgeons still cauterize the apex of the cone until a perforation is produced.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, producing the proper instruments from the wonderful case, he proceeded to cauterize the wound.

From Project Gutenberg

Before deciding to cauterize, it is necessary to ascertain the extent of area affected.

From Project Gutenberg

In this dangerous Indian climate, where everything grows putrid, they are frequently constrained to cauterize the sores.

From Project Gutenberg