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preterm

[ pree-turm ]

adjective

  1. occurring earlier in pregnancy than expected; premature:

    preterm labor.



noun

  1. a baby born prematurely, especially one born before the 37th week of pregnancy and weighing less than 5½ pounds (2.5 kilograms).

preterm

/ ˌpriːˈtɜːm /

adjective

  1. (of a baby) born prematurely
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. prematurely
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of preterm1

First recorded in 1925–30; pre- + term
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Example Sentences

About 10% of all births worldwide are classified as preterm, which occurs when a baby is born before 37 weeks gestation.

In the first known population-based study of preterm birth in North America, Ahmed and team analyzed a cohort of nearly 5 million live births in Canada of which 6.9% were preterm.

The preterm births were categorized into gestational age subcategories: 24-27 weeks, 28-31 weeks, 32-33 weeks and 34-36 weeks and compared with the full-term births, 37-41 weeks.

The researchers found that preterm birth is associated with increased risk of death across all age groups up to the age of 36 years, with the highest risks occurring from birth to infancy, 0-11 months, and early childhood, 1-5 years.

"These findings suggest that preterm birth should be recognized as a significant risk factor for mortality," Ahmed said.

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