abortion
- Also called voluntary abortion. the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy.
- any of various surgical methods for terminating a pregnancy, especially during the first six months.
- Also called spontaneous abortion. miscarriage(def 1).
- an immature and nonviable fetus.
- abortus(def 2).
- any malformed or monstrous person, thing, etc.
- Biology. the arrested development of an embryo or an organ at a more or less early stage.
- the stopping of an illness, infection, etc., at a very early stage.
- Informal.
- shambles; mess.
- anything that fails to develop, progress, or mature, as a design or project.
Origin of abortion
Examples from the Web for abortion
Contemporary Examples
Most often, the doctrine is invoked by minors seeking an abortion without parental consent.
In other words, unnecessarily stringent abortion regulation could be far more dangerous than abortion itself.
The National Right to Life Committee, for example, asks the leading question “Is Abortion Safe?”
One in three women has had an abortion in the United States—but their stories often remain private.
Jenny Kutner, a 23-year-old writer for Salon, talked about her abortion after an IUD failure.
Historical Examples
And he had arrived at what he called the hypothesis of the abortion of cells.
Doctor PascalEmile Zola
Some trees are without fruit through the abortion of the pistils.
Trees of the Northern United StatesAustin C. Apgar
Cows that are degenerating into consumption are exceedingly subject to abortion.
Cattle and Their DiseasesRobert Jennings
Abortion, also, often follows a sudden change from poor to luxuriant food.
Cattle and Their DiseasesRobert Jennings
In this case the neglect is over-production; the evil is abortion.
The Physical Life of Woman:Dr. George H Napheys
abortion
- an operation or other procedure to terminate pregnancy before the fetus is viable
- the premature termination of pregnancy by spontaneous or induced expulsion of a nonviable fetus from the uterus
- the products of abortion; an aborted fetus
- the arrest of development of an organ
- a failure to develop to completion or maturitythe project proved an abortion
- a person or thing that is deformed
Word Origin and History for abortion
n.
1540s, from Latin abortionem (nominative abortio) "miscarriage, abortion," noun of action from past participle stem of aboriri (see abortive).
Earlier noun in English was simple abort (early 15c.). Originally of both deliberate and unintended miscarriages; in 19c. some effort was made to distinguish abortion "expulsion of the fetus between 6 weeks and 6 months" from miscarriage (the same within 6 weeks of conception) and premature labor (delivery after 6 months but before due time). This broke down as abortion came to be used principally for intentional miscarriages. Foeticide (v.) appears 1823 as a forensic medical term for deliberate premature fatal expulsion of the fetus; also cf. prolicide. Abortion was a taboo word for much of early 20c., disguised in print as criminal operation (U.S.) or illegal operation (U.K.), and replaced by miscarriage in film versions of novels.
abortion
(ə-bôr′shən)- Induced termination of a pregnancy with destruction of the fetus or embryo; therapeutic abortion.
- Any of various procedures that result in such a termination of pregnancy.
- Spontaneous abortion.
- Cessation of a normal or abnormal process before completion.
abortion
- Induced termination of pregnancy, involving destruction of the embryo or fetus.
- Any of various procedures that result in such termination.
- Spontaneous abortion; miscarriage.
- Cessation of a normal or abnormal process before completion.
abortion
The deliberate termination of a pregnancy, usually before the embryo or fetus is capable of independent life. In medical contexts, this procedure is called an induced abortion and is distinguished from a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) or stillbirth.
Note
abortion
The ending of pregnancy and expulsion of the embryo or fetus, generally before the embryo or fetus is capable of surviving on its own. Abortion may be brought on intentionally by artificial means (induced abortion) or may occur naturally (spontaneous abortion, which is commonly referred to as a miscarriage). (Compare stillbirth; see also family planning and population control.)