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abortion

 [uh-bawr-shuhn]   Example Sentences Origin

a·bor·tion

   [uh-bawr-shuhn]
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, especially during the first six months.
3.
Also called spontaneous abortion. miscarriage (def. 1).
4.
an immature and nonviable fetus.
5.
abortus (def. 2b).
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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.
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Origin:
1540–50; < Latin abortiōn- (stem of abortiō). See abort, -ion

Related forms
post·a·bor·tion, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Abortion is always a great word to know.
So is organ. Does it mean:
transfer of information from one cell or molecule to another, as by chemical or electrical signals
a grouping of tissues into a distinct structure, as a heart or kidney in animals or a leaf or stamen in plants, that performs a specialized task
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Example Sentences
  • Studies of abortion issues are common, but mostly partisan.
  • The term spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, is used to signify delivery of a nonviable.
  • Foes of abortion feel that momentum is on their side.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
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
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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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"
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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.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

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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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
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. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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.)

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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