ALL meanings of ablator
ab·la·tor
A a - noun ablator the heat shield of a space vehicle, which melts or wears away during re-entry into the earth's atmosphere 3
- noun ablator the removal, especially of organs, abnormal growths, or harmful substances, from the body by mechanical means, as by surgery. 1
- noun ablator the reduction in volume of glacial ice, snow, or névé by the combined processes of melting, evaporation, and calving. Compare alimentation (def 3). 1
- noun ablator Aerospace. erosion of the protective outer surface (ablator) of a spacecraft or missile due to the aerodynamic heating caused by travel at hypersonic speed during reentry through the atmosphere. 1
- noun ablator A material that ablates, vaporizes, wears away, burns off, erodes, or abrades. (Mid 20th century.). 1