[abort] vb [L abortus, pp. of aboriri to miscarry, fr. ab- + oriri to rise, be born--more at orient] vi (1580) 1: to bring forth premature or stillborn offspring
2: to become checked in development so as to degenerate or remain rudimentary ~ vt 1 a: to induce the abortion of or give birth to prematurely b: to terminate the pregnancy of before term
2. a: to terminate prematurely: cancel "~ a project" "~ a spaceflight" b: to stop in the early stages "~ a disease" -- abort.er n
[2]abort n (1944): the premature termination of a flight (as of an aircraft or spacecraft), a mission, or an action or procedure relating to a flight "a launch ~"