abort

[ uh-bawrt ]

verb (used without object)

1. to bring forth a fetus from the uterus before the fetus is viable; miscarry.
2. to develop incompletely; remain in a rudimentary or undeveloped state.
3. to fail, cease, or stop at an early or premature stage.
4. Military. to fail to accomplish a purpose or mission for any reason other than enemy action.
5. Rocketry. (of a missile) to stop before the scheduled flight is completed.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to bring forth (a fetus) from the uterus before the fetus is viable.
2. to cause (a pregnant female) to be delivered of a nonviable fetus.
3. to cause to cease or end at an early or premature stage:

   We aborted our vacation when the car broke down.

4. to terminate (a missile flight, mission, etc.) before completion.
5. to put down or quell in the early stages:

   Troops aborted the uprising.

noun

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

abort

/ əˈbɔːt /

verb

1. to undergo or cause (a woman) to undergo the termination of pregnancy before the fetus is viable
2. tr to cause (a fetus) to be expelled from the womb before it is viable
3. intr to fail to come to completion; go wrong
4. tr to stop the development of; cause to be abandoned
5. intr to give birth to a dead or nonviable fetus
6. (of a space flight, military operation, etc) to fail or terminate prematurely
7. intr (of an organism or part of an organism) to fail to develop into the mature form

noun

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

Other Words From

• una·borted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of abort¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin abortus “miscarried,” past participle of aborīrī “to disappear, miscarry,” equivalent to ab- ab- + orīrī “to rise, come into being”; orient ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of abort¹

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

Example Sentences

They also noted the Air Force ability and willingness to abort an attack if it becomes clear that there are “civilians in the target zone.”

From Salon

The initial start was aborted after Lance Stroll spun his Aston Martin on the formation lap.

From BBC

Authorities claimed she had deliberately aborted her pregnancy, but medical experts say her method — eating a bunch of cinnamon — cannot induce a miscarriage.

From Salon

Norris had been 0.031 seconds quicker than Verstappen on their first laps, but the Dutchman had started his final lap much better than the Briton, only for both to have to abort.

From BBC

The SEC is asking that Musk be held in contempt of court and is also requesting he pony up for the cost of flying their attorneys out for the aborted hearing.

From Salon

Related Words

• break off
• cut off
• halt
• interrupt
• nullify
• scrap
• scrub
• terminate