The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Cauterize \Cau"ter*ize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cauterized; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Cauterizing.] [L. cauterizare, Gr. ?, fr. a
   branding iron: cf. F. caut['e]rised.. See cauter.]
   1. To burn or sear with a cautery or caustic. --Dunglison.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To sear, as the conscience. --Jer. Taylor.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

cauterize
    v 1: burn, sear, or freeze (tissue) using a hot iron or electric
         current or a caustic agent; "The surgeon cauterized the
         wart" [syn: cauterize, cauterise, burn]
    2: make insensitive or callous; deaden feelings or morals [syn:
       callous, cauterize, cauterise]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

26 Moby Thesaurus words for "cauterize":
   blaze, blister, brand, burn, burn in, burn off, cast, char, coal,
   crack, cupel, flame, found, oxidate, oxidize, parch, pyrolyze,
   scorch, sear, singe, solder, swinge, torrefy, vesicate, vulcanize,
   weld