əˈbȯrshən, -ȯ(ə)sh- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin abortion-, abortio, from abortus (past participle) + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : the expulsion of a nonviable fetus:
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 often due to infection of a fetus by a domestic animal at any time before completion of pregnancy — see contagious abortion , vibrionic abortion ; trichomoniasis
2. : a misshapen thing or person : monstrosity
3. : something that fails to attain full development or that ceases to progress before it is matured or perfect
his attempt proved an abortion
4.
a. : arrest of development of an organ so that it remains imperfect or is absorbed
b. : the result of such arrest of development (as a fruit that fails to reach maturity or a potential leaf reduced to a scale)
5. : the arrest of a disease in its earliest stage
abortion of a cold