voluntary abortion

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

Main Entry: abor·tion
Pronunciation: &-'bor-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resultingin, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus: a : spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation —compare MISCARRIAGE b : induced expulsion of a human fetus c : expulsion of a fetus of a domesticanimal often due to infection at any time before completion of pregnancy —see CONTAGIOUS ABORTION, TRICHOMONIASIS b, VIBRIONIC ABORTION
2 : arrest of development of an organ so that it remains imperfect or is absorbed
3 : the arrest of a disease in its earliest stage <abortion of acold>

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.

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.