ablate
ablate definition
ab·late (ab lāt′)
transitive verb ablated -·lat′ed, ablating -·lat′·ing
- to remove, as by surgery
- Astrophysics to wear away, melt, or vaporize (surface material) by entering into or passing through the atmosphere at supersonic speed
- Geol. to wear away, as by erosion
Etymology: back-form. < ablation < LL(Ec) ablatio, a taking away < L ablatus: see ablative
intransitive verb
to undergo ablation
Related Forms:
- ablation ab·la′·tion noun
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