v. & n.
v. 1 intr. a (of a woman) undergo abortion; miscarry. b (of a foetus) suffer abortion. 2 tr. a effect the abortion of (a foetus). b effect abortion in (a mother). 3 a tr. cause to end fruitlessly or prematurely; stop in the early stages. b intr. end unsuccessfully or prematurely. 4 a tr. abandon or terminate (a space flight or other technical project) before its completion, usu. because of a fault. b intr. terminate or fail to complete such an undertaking. 5 Biol. a intr. (of an organism) remain undeveloped; shrink away. b tr. cause to do this.
n. 1 a prematurely terminated space flight or other undertaking. 2 the termination of such an undertaking.
[ L aboriri miscarry (as AB-, oriri ort- be born) ]