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Definition of: ablation
(ab·lā′shən) noun
1. The surgical removal of tissues or organs from the body.
2. Geol. The wearing away of rocks.
3. Aerospace The disintegration of part of the nose cone on a missile or spacecraft when it reenters the atmosphere. [<L ablatio, -onis a carrying away < ablatus, pp. of auferre <ab-away + ferre carry]
—ab·la·ti·tious adj.
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