ablation

noun

ab·​la·​tion a-ˈblā-shən 

: the process of ablating: such as

a

: surgical removal

b

: loss of a part (such as ice from a glacier or the outside of a nose cone) by melting or vaporization

Examples of ablation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When AFib recurs or doesn’t respond to medications, a minimally invasive procedure known as cardiac ablation may be considered. —Lori Oliwenstein, TIME, 12 Sep. 2024

Those that do not go into remission or those that cannot take medication can be treated with radioactive iodine ablation or surgery to remove all or part of your thyroid gland, called a thyroidectomy, says Ogilvie. —Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Aug. 2024

The procedure is technically called a trans-cervical ablation, using an ultrasound probe, Ulrich said. —Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2024

Another approach being applied in new ways is called nerve ablation, a procedure in which the nerves around an area of pain are numbed with medication and then purposely damaged. —Rachael Rzasa Lynn, The Conversation, 25 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ablacioun "removal," borrowed from Late Latin ablātiōn-, ablātiō, from Latin ablā-, suppletive stem of auferre "to carry away, remove" + -tiōn-, tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at ablate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ablation

noun

ab·​la·​tion a-ˈblā-shən 

: the process of ablating: as

a

: surgical cutting and removal

b

: removal of a part (as the outside of a nose cone) by melting or vaporization

Medical Definition

ablation

noun

ab·​la·​tion a-ˈblā-shən 

: the process of ablating

especially : surgical removal