n.
Pronunciation: ə - ' bo ̇ r-sh ə n
Function: noun
Date: 1547
1 : the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus: as 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 by a domestic animal often due to infection at any time before completion of pregnancy ― compare CONTAGIOUS ABORTION
2 : MONSTROSITY
3 : arrest of development (as of a part or process) resulting in imperfection also : a result of such arrest