abort

[ uh-bawrt ]

See synonyms for abort on Thesaurus.com

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.

Origin of abort

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin abortus “miscarried,” past participle of aborīrī “to disappear, miscarry,” equivalent to ab- ab- + orīrī “to rise, come into being”; cf. orient

Other words from abort

un·a·bort·ed, adjective

Words that may be confused with abort

aboard, abort , abroad

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use abort in a sentence

“Sandra Fluke Aborts Congressional Bid,” read another headline on Breitbart after Fluke opted to run instead for the state Senate.
Sandra Fluke, Still Under Attack, Heads to California General Election | Olivia Nuzzi | June 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Because in the U.K. the same doctor that aborts one baby in the morning is delivering another one in the afternoon.
Pro-Lifers Descend on U.N., Decrying Abortion as an ‘Act of Violence’ | Lizzie Crocker | March 8, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Absence of a single womanly trait aborts or debilitates the offspring.
Once Aboard The Lugger | Arthur Stuart-Menteth Hutchinson
If the convulsions are severe the woman as a rule aborts, and often rapidly.
The Ethics of Medical Homicide and Mutilation | Austin O'Malley
This sometimes aborts a fit, as biting a finger in which the aura commences may also do.
Epilepsy, Hysteria, and Neurasthenia | Isaac G. Briggs

If an animal aborts unexpectedly she should be removed to separate quarters and given proper attention as promptly as possible.
Special Report on Diseases of Cattle | U.S. Department of Agriculture

British Dictionary definitions for abort

abort

/ (əˈbɔːt) /

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)

Origin of abort

C16: from Latin abortāre, from the past participle of aborīrī to miscarry, from ab- wrongly, badly + orīrī to appear, arise, be born

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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