Sublimation vs. Ablation — What's the Difference?

To be transformed directly from the solid to the gaseous state or from the gaseous to the solid state without becoming a liquid.

Ablation is removal or destruction of material from an object by vaporization, chipping, or other erosive processes. Examples of ablative materials are described below, and include spacecraft material for ascent and atmospheric reentry, ice and snow in glaciology, biological tissues in medicine and passive fire protection materials.

(Chemistry) To cause (a solid or gas) to sublimate.

Surgical excision or amputation of a body part or tissue.

(Psychology) In psychoanalytic theory, to divert or modify (an instinctual impulse or drive) into an activity or interest of higher social value.

The erosive processes by which a glacier is reduced.

(Chemistry) A product of sublimation.

The dissipation of heat generated by atmospheric friction, especially in the atmospheric reentry of a spacecraft or missile, by means of a melting heat shield.

(chemistry) The transition of a substance from the solid phase directly to the vapor state such that it does not pass through the intermediate liquid phase.

The reduction or removal of heat-protective surface material by aerodynamic friction, as from a heat shield.

(psychology) The transformation of an impulse into something socially constructive.

(obsolete) A carrying or taking away; removal.

Elevation; exaltation; a making sublime.

(surgery) The surgical removal of a body part, an organ, or especially a tumor; the removal of an organ function; amputation.

The act or process of subliming, or the state or result of being sublimed.

(sciences) The progressive removal of material by any of a variety of processes such as melting or vaporization under heat or chipping.

The act of heightening or improving; exaltation; elevation; purification.

(geology) The removal of a glacier by melting and evaporation; the lowering of a land surface by any of several means, as in wind erosion or mass wasting.

That which is sublimed; the product of a purifying process.

(meteorology) The depletion of surface snow and ice from a spacecraft or meteorite through melting and evaporation caused by friction with the atmosphere.

(chemistry) a change directly from the solid to the gaseous state without becoming liquid

A carrying or taking away; removal.

(psychology) modifying the natural expression of an impulse or instinct (especially a sexual one) to one that is socially acceptable

Extirpation.

Wearing away; superficial waste.

Surgical removal of a body part or tissue

The erosive process that reduces the size of glaciers