Main Entry: cau·ter·ize

Variant(s): or British cau·ter·ise \ˈkȯt-ə-ˌrīz\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): cau·ter·ized or British cau·ter·ised; cau·ter·iz·ing or British cau·ter·is·ing

: to sear with a cautery or caustic

—cau·ter·iza·tion or British cau·ter·isa·tion \ˌkȯt-ə-rə-ˈzā-shən\ noun