1. To remove or dissipate by melting, vaporization, erosion, etc.: "The worker was ablating the metal surface with intense heat."
2. In medicine, to excise, to amputate, or otherwise to destroy a biological function; for example, of a body tissue by cutting, with a laser, or by means of electrocautery: "The doctor ablated the abnormal number of warts that had formed on Colleen's body with electrocautery (burning with electric heat)."

"The doctor indicated that she would ablate the lump from Tanya's leg."

"After a heavy rain, the top soil ablates from the field and runs off into the stream."

"After Patrick's crushed foot was ablated in the accident, as a runner he learned to run with a prosthetic foot and shoe."

"It would appear that the ice bergs are ablating faster than scientists had anticipated."