n. 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. [Late Latin ablātiō, ablātiōn-, from Latin ablātus, past participle of auferre, to carry away : ab-, away; see AB-1 + lātus, carried; see telə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] ab·lator n. |
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