1. burning or searing tissue with a hot instrument or chemical substance, typically to stop bleeding or destroy infected material
Usage: medical/surgical context; British spelling (American: cauterizing)
2. figuratively, destroying or removing something harmful or undesirable, especially by harsh or drastic means
Usage: metaphorical use

Examples

• The surgeon was cauterising the wound to prevent excessive bleeding.
• The doctor used a laser for cauterising the affected tissue.
• Cauterising the infection helped stop its spread.
• The government attempted to address corruption by cauterising the most problematic departments.
• Medieval physicians relied on cauterising as a treatment for serious wounds.
• The procedure involved cauterising the blood vessels to seal them shut.