preterm

[ pree-turm ]

adjective
  1. occurring earlier in pregnancy than expected; premature: preterm labor.

noun
  1. a baby born prematurely, especially one born before the 37th week of pregnancy and weighing less than 5½ pounds (2.5 kilograms).

Origin of preterm

1
First recorded in 1925–30; pre- + term

Words Nearby preterm

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How to use preterm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for preterm

preterm

/ (ˌpriːˈtɜːm) /


adjective
  1. (of a baby) born prematurely

adverb
  1. prematurely

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