Ablation

Pronunciation

• US enPR: É™-blā'-shÉ™n IPA: /əˈbleɪ.ʃnÌ©/, /æˈbleɪ.ʃnÌ©/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Origin

From Middle French and Latin ablātiō ("a taking away"), from ablātus ("removed"), the perfect passive participle of auferō ("carry away"). Compare French ablation.

Full definition of ablation

Noun

1. (obsolete) A carrying or taking away; removal. First attested around 1350 to 1470.

1. (medicine) The surgical removal of a body part, an organ, or especially a tumor; the removal of an organ function; amputation. First attested around 1350 to 1470.
2. (sciences) The progressive removal of material by any of a variety of processes such as vaporization under heat or chipping. Mid 20^th century.
3. (geology) The removal of a glacier by melting and evaporation; the lowering of a land surface by any of several means, as in wind erosion, mass wasting. Mid 20^th century.