abortion

abortion (əˈbɔːʃən)

—n
1.	an operation or other procedure to terminate pregnancy before the fetus is viable
2.	the premature termination of pregnancy by spontaneous or induced expulsion of a nonviable fetus from the uterus
3.	the products of abortion; an aborted fetus
4.	the arrest of development of an organ
5.	a failure to develop to completion or maturity: the project proved an abortion
6.	a person or thing that is deformed

a'bortional

—*adj*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

abortion

1540s, from L. abortionem (nom. abortio) "miscarriage, abortion," from abortus, pp. of aboriri (see abortive). 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 1844 as a medical term for deliberate premature explusion of the fetus. 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. Abortionist is recorded by 1872.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

abortion a·bor·tion (ə-bôr'shən)
n.

The expulsion of an embryo or fetus before it is viable.
A miscarriage.
An aborted organism.
Cessation of normal growth, especially of an organ or other body part, before full development or maturation.
The arrest of an action or process before its completion.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage

Science Dictionary

abortion

(ə-bôr'shən) Pronunciation Key

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.

American Heritage

Cultural Dictionary

abortion definition

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 laws are extremely controversial. Those who describe themselves as “pro-choice” believe that the decision to have an abortion should be left to the mother. In contrast, the “pro-life” faction, arguing that abortion is killing, holds that the state should prohibit abortion in most cases. Feminists (see feminism) and liberals generally support the pro-choice side; Roman Catholics and Protestant fundamentalists generally back the pro-life side. (See Roe versus Wade.)

abortion definition

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.)

Example sentences from the web

They also allow abortion if the mother were suicidal because of such defects.

The relationship between induced abortion and mental health is an area of

controversy.

Some studies suggest that some women experience stress after a miscarriage or

abortion.

No causal link has been established between abortion and mental illness.

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Matching Quote

"Just imagine for a moment what life in this country might have been if women had been properly represented in Congress. Would a Congress where women in all their diversity were represented tolerate the countless laws now on the books that discriminate against women in all phases of their lives? Would a Congress with adequate representation of women have allowed this country to reach the 1970s without a national health care system? Would it have permitted this country to rank fourteenth in infant mortality among the developed nations of the world? Would it have allowed the situation we now have in which thousands of kids grow up without decent care because their working mothers have no place to leave them? Would such a Congress condone the continued butchering of young girls and mothers in amateur abortion mills? Would it allow fraudulent packaging and cheating of consumers in supermarkets, department stores and other retail outlets? Would it consent to the perverted sense of priorities that has dominated our government for decades, where billions have been appropriated for war while our human needs as a people have been neglected?"

-Bella Abzug