ablation

noun ab·la·tion \ a-ˈblā-shən \

|Updated on: 3 Jun 2018

Definition of ablation

: 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

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Recent Examples of ablation from the Web

Today, doctors are using advanced techniques to perform neurosurgeries, including the awake craniotomy, laser ablation and biomarkers to light up the tumor.

— nancy dahlberg, miamiherald, "Brain cancer treatments showing promise with targeted therapies. 'Very exciting stuff.' | Miami Herald," 25 May 2018
By contrast, a patient who undergoes laser ablation can be back to work or at school in less than two weeks.

— wayne drash, CNN, "Girl has blunt message for Aetna after her brain surgery request was denied," 11 Feb. 2018
Six days later, Erika underwent the ablation surgery at a facility in New York to target two small tumors on her liver.

— wayne drash, CNN, "Her only chance at life is a new liver, but her insurer said no. Then she wrote a powerful plea to the CEO," 13 May 2018
About half the patients were assigned to received drug therapy, and the other half the ablation procedure.

— peter loftus, WSJ, "Heart Device Procedure Is No Better Than Drug Therapy for Irregular Heartbeat: Study," 10 May 2018
Last month, the Redwood City, Calif., company issued a press release demanding the immediate retraction of a recent study showing that Hologic’s device for endometrial ablation is better than Minerva’s.

— adam marcus, STAT, "Surgical device firm demands the retraction of a study paid for by its rival," 8 May 2018
Treatment options include medications and a surgical procedure, catheter ablation, that destroys small areas of heart tissue that are causing rhythm problems.

— emily sohn, Washington Post, "Everyone has heart palpitations, but for some it can be serious," 7 Mar. 2018
Last summer, Tribe manager Terry Francona had a minor heart procedure (cardiac ablation) to repair an irregular heartbeat.

— terry pluto, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Cavaliers: Challenges facing Tyronn Lue -- Terry Pluto (photos)," 8 Apr. 2018
There are three main ways to treat Graves’: surgical removal of the thyroid, ablation of the thyroid with radioactive iodine or suppressing the thyroid’s production of the excess hormone with medications.

— andrea k. mcdaniels, baltimoresun.com, "What is Graves' disease? A MedStar endocrinologist explains," 5 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ablation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ablation

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined above

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