Main Entry: cau·ter·ize

Pronunciation: \ˈkȯ-tə-ˌrīz\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): cau·ter·ized; cau·ter·iz·ing

Date: 14th century

1 : to sear with a cautery or caustic <cauterize a wound>
2 : to make insensible : deaden <must oust the feeling, or cauterize it — Robert Craft>

— cau·ter·i·za·tion \ˌkȯ-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən\ noun