Definition

A material or surface that wears away or is removed when exposed to heat, often used in spacecraft or rocket engines to protect against high temperatures.

Example

The spacecraft was equipped with an ablator to protect it from the intense heat during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere.

Conversation

Did you know that rockets use an ablator to protect against heat during reentry?

Really? I had no idea that was how they kept from burning up.

Yeah, the ablator helps by burning away and taking the heat with it.

That's so cool! Space technology is fascinating.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ablator is formed from "ab-" (meaning away) and "latere" (meaning to carry or bring). The word refers to something that carries away material, often used in contexts like aerospace engineering where it describes materials that are designed to be removed or eroded during flight.

Memory Tip

Think of something that 'carries away' ('latere') material 'away' ('ab-') — that's why an ablator is a material that removes itself during use.

Visually Confused Words