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