/ əˈbɔːt; NAmE əˈbɔːrt/ verb
1.
[ vn ] to end a pregnancy early in order to prevent a baby from developing and being born alive :
to abort a child / pregnancy / foetus
2.
[ v ] ( technical ) to give birth to a child or young animal too early for it to survive :
The virus can cause pregnant animals to abort.
—see also miscarry
3.
[ often passive ] to end or cause sth to end before it has been completed, especially because it is likely to fail :
[ vn ]
We had no option but to abort the mission.
[ v ] ( computing )
If the wrong password is given the program aborts.
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from Latin aboriri miscarry, from ab- away, from + oriri be born.