( BrE also caut·er·ise ) / ˈkɔːtəraɪz; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] ( medical ) to burn a wound, using a chemical or heat, in order to stop the loss of blood or to prevent infection
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French cauteriser , from late Latin cauterizare , from Greek kautēriazein , from kautērion branding iron, from kaien to burn.