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-blay-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

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ablative

Yemeni authorities seized tools, testing equipment and raw materials, including the ablative material which protects sections of the missile from the intense heat produced by a ballistic missile.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

It's covered with blocks of a substance called Avcoat, which is "ablative" - it slowly burns off during re-entry, carrying away heat from the capsule.

From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2021

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

From Scientific American ● Jul. 20, 2014

In theory, you could melt away the whole shield and have nothing left; in practice, there was always more than enough ablative material to keep the passengers safe.

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

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