ablation

noun
UK: /æˈbleɪʃən/
US: /æˈbleɪʃən/

  1. The removal of material from the surface of an object by vaporization, chipping, or other erosive processes.

    1. The spacecraft experienced significant ablation during its atmospheric reentry. [ ] [ ]
    2. Ablation is a critical factor in the design of heat shields for space vehicles to protect from extreme heat. [ ] [ ]

  2. The surgical removal of body tissue.

    1. Cardiac ablation can help to correct certain types of heart rhythm problems. [ ] [ ]
    2. After the ablation, the patient reported a significant reduction in pain and improved mobility. [ ] [ ]

  3. The melting of snow or ice.

    1. Glacial ablation rates are increasing due to global warming. [ ] [ ]
    2. Ablation processes contribute to the overall shrinking of the glacier over time. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

erosion removal excision melting
ablation transitive-verb

  1. To surgically remove body tissue.

    1. The doctor will ablate the tumor. [ ] [ ]
    2. Surgeons ablate the problematic tissue to stop the irregular heartbeats. [ ] [ ]

  2. To remove material from the surface of an object by vaporization or other erosive processes.

    1. The intense heat will ablate the surface of the metal. [ ] [ ]
    2. During reentry, the spacecraft's heat shield is designed to ablate, protecting the internal components. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "ablation" in English means: The removal of material from the surface of an object by vaporization, chipping, or other erosive processes., The surgical removal of body tissue., The melting of snow or ice..

The phonetic transcription of "ablation" is /æˈbleɪʃən/ in British English and /æˈbleɪʃən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "ablation": erosion, removal, excision, melting.

Example usage of "ablation": "The spacecraft experienced significant ablation during its atmospheric reentry.". More examples on the page.