| miscarriage (def. 1). |
[uh-bawr-shuh
n] 
| 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.
|
| mis·car·riage (mĭs'kār'ĭj, mĭs-kār'-) n.
|
| spontaneous abortion n. See miscarriage. |
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.)
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.
spontaneous abortion spon·ta·ne·ous abortion (spŏn-tā'nē-əs)
n.
Abortion occurring naturally; miscarriage.