abort

[ uh-bawrt ]
/ əˈbɔrt /

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

a missile, rocket, etc., that has aborted.

Origin of abort

1570–80; < Latin abortus miscarried (past participle of aborīrī to disappear, miscarry) equivalent to ab- ab- + -or- come into being + -tus past participle suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM abort

un·a·bort·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH abort

aboard abort abroad

Example sentences from the Web for abort

British Dictionary definitions for abort

abort
/ (əˈbɔːt) /

verb

noun

the premature termination or failure of (a space flight, military operation, etc)

Word Origin for abort

C16: from Latin abortāre, from the past participle of aborīrī to miscarry, from ab- wrongly, badly + orīrī to appear, arise, be born

Medical definitions for abort

abort
[ ə-bôrt ]

v.

To expel or cause to expel an embryo or fetus before it is viable.
To arrest a disease in its earliest stages.
To arrest in growth or development; to cause to remain rudimentary.