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

He had a blood vessel cauterized in his nose and began checking the air quality each morning to see if it was safe to go outside.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Once they found the ulcer, they cauterized it and gave him two pints of blood.

From Seattle Times

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

From Salon

Where life wounds, art and fellowship can heal, or at the very least, cauterize into the most expressive of scars.

From Los Angeles Times