Meaning & use
cauterized
Last updated
“cauterized” is a form of “cauterize”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitivemedical
Past tense and past participle of cauterize: burned a wound or body tissue with heat or a chemical to stop bleeding or prevent infection.
Grammar: Takes an object: the doctor cauterized the wound.
Patterns
- cauterize something
- cauterize something with something
The surgeon cauterized the blood vessel to stop the bleeding.
Medics cauterized the wound with a hot instrument.
The nosebleed was cauterized with a silver nitrate stick.
verbtransitivefigurativeformal
Past tense and past participle of cauterize used figuratively: stopped something harmful quickly and decisively.
Grammar: Takes an object: the manager cauterized the damage.
Patterns
- cauterize the damage
- cauterize a problem
The company cauterized the scandal by firing the executives involved.
The leader cauterized the spread of rumors with one clear announcement.
Word forms
| base form | cauterize |
|---|---|
| third person singular | cauterizes |
| -ing form | cauterizing |
Common combinations
- cauterized a wound
- The nurse cauterized a wound that would not stop bleeding.
- cauterized with heat
- The vessel was cauterized with heat from a small probe.
- cauterized the bleeding
- The doctor cauterized the bleeding in seconds.
- cauterized the damage
- The firm cauterized the damage to its reputation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- seared
- Seared means burned the surface quickly, often in cooking; cauterized is specifically medical and aimed at sealing tissue.
- burned
- Burned is a general word for damage by fire, while cauterized is deliberate and therapeutic.
- sealed
- Sealed describes closing something, and cauterized specifies that heat or a chemical does it.
Word family
Commonly confused: cauterized or sterilized?
cauterized vs sterilized
Sterilized means made free of germs, while cauterized means burned to seal tissue, though it may also help prevent infection.
Practice
To stop the heavy bleeding, the surgeon ______ the artery with a heated tool.
Choose one answer.
Cauterized means sealed by burning. Amputated means cut off, and anesthetized means numbed, so neither matches the heated tool.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cauterized”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.