1. past tense and past participle of cauterise; to burn or sear tissue with a hot instrument or chemical substance, typically to stop bleeding or remove diseased tissue
Usage: medical/surgical context; British spelling (American: cauterized)
2. to make insensitive or unresponsive; to harden emotionally
Usage: figurative use

Examples

• The surgeon cauterised the wound to prevent excessive bleeding.
• The doctor cauterised the lesion using a laser.
• Years of rejection had cauterised his heart against further pain.
• The wound was cauterised immediately after the procedure.
• Repeated disappointments had cauterised her ability to trust others.
• The bleeding vessel was cauterised during the operation.