ablative

¹ American  

[ab-luh-tiv] / ˈæb lə tɪv /

adjective

1. (in some inflected languages) noting a case that has among its functions the indication of place from which or, as in Latin, place in which, manner, means, instrument, or agent.

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noun

1. the ablative case. abl.

2. a word in that case, as Troiā in Latin Aenēas Troiā vēnit, “Aeneas came from Troy.”

ablative ² American  

[a-bley-tiv] / æˈbleɪ tɪv /

adjective

1. capable of or susceptible to ablation; tending to ablate.

   the ablative nose cone of a rocket.

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ablative British  

/ ˈæblətɪv /

adjective

1. (in certain inflected languages such as Latin) denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives indicating the agent in passive sentences or the instrument, manner, or place of the action described by the verb

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noun

1. 1. the ablative case

   2. a word or speech element in the ablative case

2. taking away or removing

   ablative surgery

3. able to disintegrate or be worn away at a very high temperature

   a thick layer of ablative material

Other Word Forms

• ablatival adjective
• ablatively adverb

Etymology

Origin of ablative¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word ablātīvus. See ablate, -ive

Origin of ablative¹

First recorded in 1560–70; ablate + -ive

Example Sentences

The shield is made from an "ablative" material that slowly sinters away to carry off much of this extreme heat.

From BBC

The Space Shuttle relied on ceramic tiles comprised of composite materials known as ablatives to shield it during the white-hot re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.

From BBC

The type of radiation treatment Justice Ginsburg had, called stereotactic ablative radiation therapy, concentrates radiation on the tumor, limiting damage to the surrounding organs, and is generally less disruptive to patients’ lives.

From New York Times

The narrative verdict recorded at his inquest concluded, on the balance of probabilities, the treatment proposed for Mr Bevan "would have been successful" if doctors had ensured he underwent stereotactic ablative radiotherapy.

From BBC

“I liked the ablative absolute, the way it could wrap up entire epochs in two words, then move on,” she writes.

From The New Yorker