æbˈleɪʃən n. 1
the surgical removal of
body tissue. 2 Geol. the wasting or
erosion of a
glacier,
iceberg, or rock by melting or the
action of
water. 3
Astronaut. the evaporation or melting of
part of the
outer surface of a
spacecraft through heating by
friction with the
atmosphere. øøablate v.tr. [F ablation or LL ablatio f. L ablat(as
AB-, latpast part. stem of ferre carry)]