1. the application of heat, cold, or a caustic substance to tissue to destroy it, stop bleeding, or treat a wound
Usage: medical term; often used in surgery and wound treatment
2. an instrument or substance used to burn or sear tissue
Usage: medical/surgical context

Examples

• The surgeon used cautery to seal the blood vessels during the procedure.
• Cautery is an effective method for removing certain skin lesions.
• The doctor applied cautery to stop the bleeding from the wound.
• Modern cautery techniques use electrical current rather than open flame.
• Cautery has been used in medicine for thousands of years to treat injuries.