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9 dictionary results for: abortion
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
a·bor·tion       [uh-bawr-shuhn] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.Also called voluntary abortion. the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy.
2.any of various surgical methods for terminating a pregnancy, esp. during the first six months.
3.Also called spontaneous abortion. miscarriage (def. 3).
4.an immature and nonviable fetus.
5.abortus (def. 2b).
6.any malformed or monstrous person, thing, etc.
7.Biology. the arrested development of an embryo or an organ at a more or less early stage.
8.the stopping of an illness, infection, etc., at a very early stage.
9.Informal.
a.shambles; mess.
b.anything that fails to develop, progress, or mature, as a design or project.
[Origin: 1540–50; < L abortiōn- (s. of abortiō). See abort, -ion]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
a·bor·tion       (ə-bôr'shən)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
    1. Termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a fetus that is incapable of survival.
    2. Any of various procedures that result in such termination and expulsion. Also called induced abortion.
  2. The premature expulsion of a nonviable fetus from the uterus; a miscarriage.
  3. Cessation of normal growth, especially of an organ or other body part, prior to full development or maturation.
  4. An aborted organism.
  5. Something malformed or incompletely developed; a monstrosity.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
abortion

noun
1. termination of pregnancy 
2. failure of a plan [syn: miscarriage] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
abortion       (ə-bôr'shən)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Induced termination of pregnancy, involving destruction of the embryo or fetus.
  2. Any of various procedures that result in such termination.
  3. Spontaneous abortion; miscarriage.
  4. Cessation of a normal or abnormal process before completion.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
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 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.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
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.)


The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

abortion a·bor·tion (ə-bôr'shən)
n.

  1. The expulsion of an embryo or fetus before it is viable.
  2. A miscarriage.
  3. An aborted organism.
  4. Cessation of normal growth, especially of an organ or other body part, before full development or maturation.
  5. 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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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: abor·tion
Pronunciation: &-'bor-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus; especially : the medical procedure of inducing expulsion of a human fetus to terminate a pregnancy
2 : the crime of procuring or performing an illegal abortion abortion —W. Railroad LaFave and A. W. Scott, Junior> —see also Roe v. Wade and Webster v. Reproductive Health Services in the IMPORTANT CASES section

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Abortion

A*bor"tion\ ([.a]*b[^o]r"sh[u^]n), n. [L. abortio, fr. aboriri. See Abort.]

1. The act of giving premature birth; particularly, the expulsion of the human fetus prematurely, or before it is capable of sustaining life; miscarriage.

Note: It is sometimes used for the offense of procuring a premature delivery, but strictly the early delivery is the abortion, "causing or procuring abortion" is the full name of the offense. --Abbott.

2. The immature product of an untimely birth.

3. (Biol.) Arrest of development of any organ, so that it remains an imperfect formation or is absorbed.

4. Any fruit or produce that does not come to maturity, or anything which in its progress, before it is matured or perfect; a complete failure; as, his attempt proved an abortion.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Sponsored Links Considering Adoption?
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