ablate Definition
- 1to remove or destroy the function of an organ or tissue, especially by surgery or laser
- 2to remove or vaporize material from the surface of an object, especially a spacecraft or missile, through the use of heat or friction
Using ablate: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ablate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The surgeon will ablate the tumor from the patient's liver.
Example
The spacecraft's heat shield is designed to ablate during re-entry, protecting the craft from the intense heat.
Example
The dentist will ablate the decayed part of the tooth before filling it.
ablate Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with ablate
a medical procedure that removes the lining of the uterus to treat heavy menstrual bleeding
Example
After years of suffering from heavy periods, she decided to undergo endometrial ablation.
Example
The archaeologist used laser ablation to analyze the composition of the ancient pottery.
the area of a glacier where the ice is melting faster than it is being replenished by snowfall
Example
The ablation zone of the glacier has been shrinking due to climate change.
Origins of ablate
from Latin 'ablatus', meaning 'taken away'
Summary: ablate in Brief
To 'ablate' [uh-bleyt] means to remove or destroy the function of an organ or tissue, often through surgery or laser. It can also refer to the removal or vaporization of material from the surface of an object, such as a spacecraft or missile. Examples include 'The surgeon will ablate the tumor from the patient's liver.' and 'The spacecraft's heat shield is designed to ablate during re-entry.' Phrases like 'endometrial ablation' and 'laser ablation' denote specific medical or scientific procedures.
