ablation

1. Surgical excision or amputation of a body part or tissue.
2. The erosive processes by which a glacier is reduced.
3. Aerospace
   a. The dissipation of heat generated by atmospheric friction, especially in the atmospheric reentry of a spacecraft or missile, by means of a melting heat shield.
   b. The reduction or removal of heat-protective surface material by aerodynamic friction, as from a heat shield.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin ablātiō, ablātiōn-

Origin: , from Latin ablātus

Origin: , past participle of auferre, to carry away

Origin: : ab-, away; see ab-¹

Origin: + lātus, carried; see telə- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

• ab·laˈtor noun