cau;ter;ize pronunciation: function: transitive verb inflected form(s): cau;ter;ized; cau;ter;iz;ingdate: 14th century 1 : to sear with a cautery or caustic lt;cauterize a woundgt;2 : to make insensible : deaden lt;must oust the feeling, or cauterize it — robert craftgt;— cau;ter;i;za;tion noun