cautery

1. An agent or instrument used to destroy abnormal tissue by burning, searing, or scarring, including caustic substances, electric currents, lasers, and very hot or very cold instruments.
2. The act or process of cauterizing.

[Middle English cauterie, from Latin cautērium, branding iron, cautery, from Greek kautērion, from kaiein, kau-, to burn.]

1. An agent or instrument used to destroy tissue by burning, searing, cutting, or scarring, including caustic and electric currents, lasers.
2. The act or process of cauterizing.

1. the application of a caustic agent, a hot instrument, an electric current, or other agent to destroy tissue.
2. an agent so used.

• cold c. — cauterization by carbon dioxide, called also cryocautery.

The noun has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: 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
  Synonym: cauterant

Meaning #2: the act of coagulating blood and destroying tissue with a hot iron or caustic agent or by freezing
  Synonyms: cauterization, cauterisation