noun

ablation

uh-BLAY-shun/əˈbleɪʃn/

The removal or destruction of material from a surface or body.

Laser ablation removes the dark coating and exposes the metal beneath.

Close-up of laser ablation removing a thin dark coating from a metal plate: the laser strikes the coating at the boundary of a freshly cleared strip, with a small plume of ejected material and bright bare metal exposed behind it.

Etymology

abLatinaway, off

+latLatinto bear, carry

+ionLatinaction or process

The pieces express an act of “carrying away.” This removal sense underlies medical ablation: tissue or other material is taken away, including by destroying it rather than physically lifting it off.

In context

Kidney Cancer7:48

cryotherapy is freezing the tumor and then radiofrequency ablation is putting a probe in the tumor and basically heating it to destroy the tissue

Kidney Cancer Association

More examples

The surgeon explained the planned tissue ablation.
Heat caused ablation of the spacecraft's protective surface.
The study compares rates of ice ablation at different elevations.

Forms

ablation · ablations

Similar words

erosion: Usually means gradual wearing away through natural processes.
excision: Specifically removes tissue by cutting it out.