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

An ablation procedure uses small burns or freezes heart cells and creates tiny scars in heart tissue, which helps to prevent the heart from producing an irregular rhythm. —Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 17 Oct. 2024

In another technique, cardiac ablation, healthcare providers use electrodes to expose problem parts of the heart to heat. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 16 Sep. 2024

Adagio Medical continues to focus on the development and commercialization of its ablation technologies for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024

Just a phase Using both laser ablation (a type of laser imaging that reveals how elements and isotopes are distributed in a sample) and plasma mass spectrometry, the researchers determined the uranium-lead ratio. —Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 13 Sep. 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