(n)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, Syn.cauterant
n.; pl.Cauteries [ L. cauterium, Gr. &unr_;. See Cauter. ] 1. (Med.) A burning or searing, as of morbid flesh, with a hot iron, or by application of a caustic that will burn, corrode, or destroy animal tissue. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. The iron of other agent in cauterizing. [ 1913 Webster ]
Actual cautery, a substance or agent (as a hot iron) which cauterizes or sears by actual heat; or the burning so effected. -- Potential cautery, a substance which cauterizes by chemical action; as, lunar caustic; also, the cauterizing produced by such substance. [ 1913 Webster ]