CAUTERY

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of coagulating blood and destroying tissue with a hot iron or caustic agent or by freezing

Synonyms:

cauterisation; cauterization; cautery

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("cautery" is a kind of...):

operation; surgery; surgical operation; surgical procedure; surgical process (a medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cautery"):

cryocautery (application of a substance that destroys tissue by freezing it)

thermocautery (cautery (destruction of tissue) by heat)

Derivation:

cauterise; cauterize (burn, sear, or freeze (tissue) using a hot iron or electric current or a caustic agent)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An instrument or substance used to destroy tissue for medical reasons (eg removal of a wart) by burning it with a hot iron or an electric current or a caustic or by freezing it

Synonyms:

cauterant; cautery

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("cautery" is a kind of...):

instrument (a device that requires skill for proper use)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cautery"):

cryocautery (an instrument for destroying tissue by freezing it)

searing iron (a hot iron used to destroy tissue)