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Ablation: meaning, definitions and examples

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ablation

 

[əˈbleɪʃ(ə)n ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

medical procedure

The surgical removal of body tissue. Ablation can be used to treat various medical conditions, such as cancer or abnormal heart rhythms.

Synonyms

excision, extirpation, resection.

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Word Description / Examples
ablation

Medical procedure to remove tissue by various methods such as surgery, lasers, or other means. Commonly used in cardiology and oncology.

  • Cardiac ablation is performed to correct heart rhythm problems.
  • Laser ablation can be used to remove small tumors.
excision

Surgical removal of a chunk of tissue or an organ, often used in a more general sense compared to other terms.

  • The doctor performed an excision of the mole for biopsy.
  • Excision of the cyst is scheduled for next week.
resection

Surgical removal of part of an organ or structure, often used in gastrointestinal surgeries.

  • He underwent a bowel resection to remove the obstructed section.
  • Lung resection was necessary due to the spread of the infection.
extirpation

Complete removal or eradication of an organ, tissue, or tumor, often used in relation to cancer treatment.

  • The extirpation of the tumor was successful and the patient is recovering well.
  • Extirpation of invasive species is crucial to protect native ecosystems.

Examples of usage

  • The patient underwent ablation to remove the tumor from his lung.
  • Ablation of the abnormal tissue in the heart helped restore normal heart rhythm.
Context #2 | Noun

geology

The erosion of the earth's surface by glaciers, wind, or water. Ablation is a natural process that shapes the landscape over time.

Synonyms

corrosion, erosion, weathering.

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Word Description / Examples
ablation

This term is typically used in scientific and medical contexts. In medicine, it refers to the surgical removal of body tissue, and in geology or space science, it describes the process of surface removal due to wind, water, or other natural elements.

  • The doctor performed an ablation to remove the abnormal tissue.
  • The spacecraft's heat shield underwent ablation upon re-entering the Earth's atmosphere.
erosion

Erosion is commonly used in geological and environmental discussions. It refers to the process wherein natural forces like water, wind, or ice remove soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location and transport it to another.

  • The riverbank suffered severe erosion after the storm.
  • Erosion has created many natural landscapes over millions of years.
weathering

Weathering is used to describe the breaking down of rocks, soil, and minerals through direct contact with Earth's atmosphere. It is often discussed in geology and geography.

  • The ancient ruins have undergone extensive weathering over the centuries.
  • Chemical weathering has altered the composition of the rock formation.
corrosion

Corrosion is often used in chemistry and engineering. It describes the gradual destruction of materials, usually metals, due to chemical reactions, commonly with oxygen or moisture.

  • The steel beams showed significant signs of corrosion.
  • To prevent corrosion, the pipes were coated with a special protective layer.

Examples of usage

  • The ablation of the glacier carved out the valley.
  • Wind ablation can result in the formation of sand dunes.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The term originates from the Latin word 'ablative', which relates to 'taking away' or 'removing'.
  • In scientific contexts, 'ablation' has been used since the early 20th century to describe removal processes.

Medicine

  • In medicine, it's commonly used to refer to procedures that remove or destroy tissue, often to treat health issues like tumors.
  • Techniques such as laser ablation allow for precision removal of unwanted tissue without harming surrounding areas.

Space Exploration

  • In aerospace engineering, the term refers to the loss of material from spacecraft due to the heat during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
  • Protective heat shields use ablation to absorb and dissipate heat, preventing damage to the spacecraft.

Environmental Science

  • Ablation can also describe the melting of ice in glaciers, contributing to sea-level rise and changes in ecosystems.
  • Studying ablation helps scientists understand climate change impacts and monitor glacier movements.

Engineering

  • In manufacturing, techniques such as water jet cutting employ ablation to precisely shape materials by removing layers.
  • It's a critical process in 3D printing, where excess material is removed to create desired shapes.

Translations

Translations of the word "ablation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ablação

🇮🇳 क्षरण

🇩🇪 Ablation

🇮🇩 ablasi

🇺🇦 абляція

🇵🇱 ablacja

🇯🇵 アブレーション

🇫🇷 ablation

🇪🇸 ablación

🇹🇷 ablasyon

🇰🇷 제거

🇸🇦 إزالة

🇨🇿 ablace

🇸🇰 ablácia

🇨🇳 消融

🇸🇮 ablacija

🇮🇸 afleiðing

🇰🇿 абляция

🇬🇪 აბლაცია

🇦🇿 ablasiya

🇲🇽 ablación

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,895, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.