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 ablative²

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 • Aug. 3, 2021

The ablative tool appears to be “increasing the ability of the immune system to fight cancer all across the body, not just in tumors lying within the immediate treatment zone.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 14, 2015

If Cavalieri had wished to say “On Guldin,” he would have written “In Guldino,” with the ablative case.

From Scientific American • Jul. 20, 2014

Back then, all heat shields were what's known as ablative — meaning they were designed to disintegrate, burning off slowly and carrying the heat away from the vehicle.

From Time • Feb. 20, 2012

“It’s not place whither, it’s place to. I put my money on the ablative case.”

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt