1. the surgical removal of body tissue or an organ
Usage: medical
2. the wearing away or erosion of material, especially by friction or weathering
Usage: geology; engineering
3. the loss of ice or snow from a glacier or snowfield through melting or evaporation
Usage: glaciology

Examples

• The surgeon performed an ablation to remove the tumor.
• Cardiac ablation can treat certain heart rhythm disorders.
• Wind ablation gradually wore down the rock formation.
• The spacecraft’s heat shield protected it from ablation during reentry.
• Glacier ablation has accelerated due to rising temperatures.
• Scientists measured the ablation rate of the ice sheet.
• Laser ablation is used to remove precise amounts of material.