/ əˈbleɪʃn; NAmE / noun
[ U ] ( geology ) the loss of material from a large mass of ice, snow or rock as a result of the action of the sun, wind or rain
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the general sense taking away, removal ): from late Latin ablatio(n-) , from Latin ablat- taken away, from ab- away + lat- carried (from the verb ferre ).