ablative

¹

[ ab-luh-tiv ]

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.

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

[ a-bley-tiv ]

adjective

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

   the ablative nose cone of a rocket.

ablative

/ 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

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 Words From

• ab·la·ti·val [ab-l, uh, -, tahy, -v, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

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

In fact, ablative brain surgery is largely how early neuroscientists gained their bearings when first mapping the brain; this involved selectively excising certain sections of animal brains and observing what limbs or body parts ceased functioning.

From Salon

Do you know the difference between the genitive and the ablative case?

From Literature

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

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

From BBC

“Ablative’s the ticket. The hard ones are always ablative.”

From Literature