CAUTERY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does cautery mean? 

• CAUTERY (noun)
  The noun CAUTERY has 2 senses:

1. 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

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

  Familiarity information: CAUTERY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CAUTERY (noun)

Sense 1

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

cauterant; cautery

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)

Derivation:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

cauterisation; cauterization; cautery

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)

 Context examples 

An adverse event for which only minimal, local, or noninvasive intervention (e.g. packing, cautery) is indicated; or that limits instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs, e.g., shopping, laundry, transportation, or ability to conduct finances).

(Moderate Adverse Event, NCI Thesaurus)