cautery

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the medical destruction or sealing of tissue by heat, cold, electricity, or a caustic substance, especially to stop bleeding

   The surgeon used cautery to seal the small blood vessels during the operation.

2. 2
   noun

   an instrument or substance used to cauterize tissue

   The nurse checked the electric cautery before the procedure began.

From Latin cauterium, 'branding iron,' from Ancient Greek kauterion, an instrument for burning, ultimately from kaiein, 'to burn.' The instrument name broadened to the medical procedure itself.

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