cautery

[ kaw-tuh-ree ]

noun

, plural cau·ter·ies.

1. an escharotic substance, electric current, or hot iron used to destroy tissue.
2. the process of destroying tissue with a cautery.

cautery

/ ˈkɔːtərɪ /

noun

1. the coagulation of blood or destruction of body tissue by cauterizing
2. Also calledcauterant an instrument or chemical agent for cauterizing

cautery

/ kô′tə-rē /

1. An agent or instrument used to destroy tissue, as in surgery, by burning, searing, cutting, or scarring, including caustic substances, electric currents, and lasers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cautery¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin cautērium < Greek kautḗrion, equivalent to kautḗr branding iron ( cauterize ) + -ion diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of cautery¹

C14: from Old French cautère, from Latin cautērium; see cauterize

Example Sentences

Monell, Bigelow, Massey, and Bartholow know electricity about the nose only as a cautery.

From Project Gutenberg

If the spurting blood should cool the cautery, take another.

From Project Gutenberg

He brought in a cautery, a furnace, and other terrible instruments used then in medical practice.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps we needed a surgeon who would use knife and cautery.

From Project Gutenberg

In cautery, the area where fire is to be placed is marked with ink in the shape of a myrtle leaf.

From Project Gutenberg