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abort

[ uh-bawrt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

to bring forth a fetus from the uterus before the fetus is viable; miscarry.
to develop incompletely; remain in a rudimentary or undeveloped state.
to fail, cease, or stop at an early or premature stage.
Military. to fail to accomplish a purpose or mission for any reason other than enemy action.
Rocketry. (of a missile) to stop before the scheduled flight is completed.

verb (used with object)

to cause to bring forth (a fetus) from the uterus before the fetus is viable.
to cause (a pregnant female) to be delivered of a nonviable fetus.
to cause to cease or end at an early or premature stage:
We aborted our vacation when the car broke down.
to terminate (a missile flight, mission, etc.) before completion.
to put down or quell in the early stages:
Troops aborted the uprising.

noun

a missile, rocket, etc., that has aborted.

abort

/ əˈ��ɔː�� /

verb

to undergo or cause (a woman) to undergo the termination of pregnancy before the fetus is viable
tr to cause (a fetus) to be expelled from the womb before it is viable
intr to fail to come to completion; go wrong
tr to stop the development of; cause to be abandoned
intr to give birth to a dead or nonviable fetus
(of a space flight, military operation, etc) to fail or terminate prematurely
intr (of an organism or part of an organism) to fail to develop into the mature form

noun

the premature termination or failure of (a space flight, military operation, etc)

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Other Word Forms

�ܲ�a·��ǰ��Ļ� adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of abort¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin abortus “miscarried,” past participle of ��ǰ�ī��ī “to disappear, miscarry,” equivalent to ab- ab- + �ǰ�ī��ī “to rise, come into being”; orient ( def )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of abort¹

C16: from Latin ��ǰ��, from the past participle of ��ǰ�ī��ī to miscarry, from ab- wrongly, badly + �ǰ�ī��ī to appear, arise, be born

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Not only do the cows lose weight, but they abort pregnancies at increased rates, researchers found.

From

The most well-known conversation is around Down's syndrome and the number of women who choose to abort a pregnancy once their baby is tested and diagnosed as having the condition.

From

Other papers are expected to cover details of the mysterious and aborted "Eurasia Fund" and Mr Yang's work as a China consultant for major British businesses.

From

Dani was told she would have to abort due to a medical complication from her previous pregnancy, but says the experience of going through the abortion as a wheelchair user left her traumatised.

From

"I was going to abort that lap. I'm glad I didn't."

From

Related Words

aborning aborticide

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