Noun cautery has 2 senses
  1. cautery, cauterant - an instrument or substance used to destroy tissue for medical reasons (eg removal of a wart) by burning it with a hot iron or an electric current or a caustic or by freezing it
    --1 is a kind of instrument
    --1 has particulars: cryocautery; searing iron
    Derived forms: verb cauterize1, verb cauterise1
  2. cautery, cauterization, cauterisation - the act of coagulating blood and destroying tissue with a hot iron or caustic agent or by freezing
    --2 is a kind of operation, surgery, surgical operation, surgical procedure, surgical process
    --2 has particulars: cryocautery; thermocautery
    Derived forms: verb cauterize1, verb cauterise1
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