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Answer for the clue "The erosive process that reduces the size of glaciers ", 8 letters:
ablation

Alternative clues for the word ablation

Word definitions for ablation in dictionaries

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
early 15c., from Latin ablationem (nominative ablatio ), "a taking away," noun of action from past participle stem of auferre "to carry away," from ab- "off" (see ab- ) + ferre (past participle latum ; see oblate ) "to bear."

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
Ablation is removal of material from the surface of 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 ...

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Ablation \Ab*la"tion\, n. [L. ablatio, fr. ablatus p. p. of auferre to carry away; ab + latus, p. p. of ferre carry: cf. F. ablation. See Tolerate .] A carrying or taking away; removal. --Jer. Taylor. (Med.) Extirpation. --Dunglison. (Geol.) Wearing away; ...

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. surgical removal of a body part or tissue [syn: extirpation , cutting out , excision ] the erosive process that reduces the size of glaciers

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. 1 (context obsolete English) A carrying or taking away; removal. (First attested around 1350 to 1470.) (R:SOED5: page=5) 2 (context medicine English) The surgical removal of a body part, an organ, or especially a tumor; the removal of an organ function; ...

Usage examples of ablation.

Chemical rockets in the nose fired to slow it, dirty ablation smoke was pouring out of all ninety-six brake drums.

These protected the main bodies by a process of ablation so that to the opposition each man appeared to flare up under fire like a living torch.

The first ablation is obtained by applying fire or caustics to the nipples, the second by amputation of the breasts, one or both, the third by diverse gashes, chiefly across the breast, and the fourth by resection of the nymphae or of the nymphae and clitoris, and the superior major labia, the cicatrices of which would deform the vulva.

BOXES: the general term for any cargo container of irregular shape and equipped with ablation surfaces and suspensor damping system.

And as the ends and ultimates of all things accord in some mean and measure with their inceptions and originals, that same multiplicit concordance which leads forth growth from birth accomplishing by a retrogressive metamorphosis that minishing and ablation towards the final which is agreeable unto nature so is it with our subsolar being.

Although de Sinety, as shown above, had practised the ablation of the mammary glands during lactation, it would seem that mutilation rather than complete ablation preceded his experiments on the innervation of the mammary nerve.

Desperately Mott wanted to spend a year at Cal Tech, for in his advanced work at Langley and Wallops Island, and especially during his studies of ablation in California, he had seen that much of the really powerful thinking being done in these intriguing fields stemmed from this small, tight, distinguished center of learning in Pasadena.

These protected the main bodies by a process of ablation so that to the opposition each man appeared to flare up under fire like a living torch.

In a few thousand years vacuum ablation would reduce them to tissue flakes, a swarm of slowly dissipating metallic confetti.

A ten-tonne projectile protected against re-entry ablation, travelling at orbital velocity, was a thousand times cheaper than nuclear or electroncompression weapons.

And as the ends and ultimates of all things accord in some mean and measure with their inceptions and originals, that same multiplicit concordance which leads forth growth from birth accomplishing by a retrogressive metamorphosis that minishing and ablation towards the final which is agreeable unto nature so is it with our subsolar being.

In front of the rotating life-support zone an ablation shield of neutron-latticed rock capped the spine and protected the human cargo.

In wonder she explored its surface, rigid and weathered, pitted with the myriad ablations of reentry.

DUMP BOXES: the general term for any cargo container of irregular shape and equipped with ablation surfaces and suspensor damping system.

Though upon my word,' he added with a sigh, 'there are times when it seems to me that nothing short of a radical ablation of the membrum virile would answer, in this case.