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ablator

American  
[a-bley-ter] / æˈbleɪ tər /

noun

Aerospace.
  1. ablation3


ablator British  
/ æbˈleɪtə /

noun

  1. the heat shield of a space vehicle, which melts or wears away during re-entry into the earth's atmosphere

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ablator

ablate + -or 2