cauterize

verb
UK: /ˈkɔː.tə.raɪz/
US: /ˈkɑː.t̬ə.raɪz/

  1. To burn skin or flesh to stop bleeding or prevent infection.

    1. The doctor had to cauterize the wound.
    2. They had to cauterize the cut to prevent it from getting infected further.

  2. To deaden feelings or make someone less sensitive.

    1. The constant criticism seemed to cauterize her spirit.
    2. Years of hardship had cauterized his ability to feel sympathy for others.

Synonyms

deaden burn numb scorch sear
cauterize adjective

  1. Having been burned or seared to stop bleeding or prevent infection.

    1. The cauterized area was healing well.
    2. A cauterized wound is less likely to develop a serious infection.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "cauterize" in English means: To burn skin or flesh to stop bleeding or prevent infection., To deaden feelings or make someone less sensitive..

The phonetic transcription of "cauterize" is /ˈkɔː.tə.raɪz/ in British English and /ˈkɑː.t̬ə.raɪz/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "cauterize": deaden, burn, numb, scorch, sear.

Example usage of "cauterize": "The doctor had to cauterize the wound.". More examples on the page.