abortive
failing to succeed; unsuccessful: an abortive rebellion; an abortive scheme.
born prematurely.
imperfectly developed; rudimentary.
Medicine/Medical.
producing or intended to produce abortion; abortifacient.
acting to halt progress of a disease.
Pathology. (of the course of a disease) short and mild without the usual, pronounced clinical symptoms.
Botany. (of seeds or pollen grains) imperfect; unable to germinate.
Origin of abortive
1Other words for abortive
Opposites for abortive
Other words from abortive
- a·bor·tive·ly, adverb
- a·bor·tive·ness, noun
- non·a·bort·ive, adjective
- non·a·bort·ive·ly, adverb
- non·a·bort·ive·ness, noun
- un·a·bor·tive, adjective
- un·a·bor·tive·ly, adverb
- un·a·bor·tive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for abortive
/ (əˈbɔːtɪv) /
failing to achieve a purpose; fruitless
(of organisms) imperfectly developed; rudimentary
causing abortion; abortifacient
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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