I. ə-ˈbȯrt verb
Etymology: Latin abortus, past participle of aboriri to miscarry, from ab- + oriri to rise, be born — more at orient
Date: 1580
intransitive verb
1. : to bring forth stillborn, nonviable, or premature offspring
2. : to become checked in development so as to degenerate or remain rudimentary
3. : to terminate a procedure prematurely
the pilot decided to abort due to mechanical difficulties
transitive verb
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
abort a project
abort a spaceflight
b. : to stop in the early stages
abort a disease
• abort·er noun
II. noun
Date: 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 abort