abort

(ə bôrt′)

intransitive verb

Origin: L abortare < abortus, pp. of aboriri, to miscarry, pass away, orig., to set (as the sun) < ab-, from + oriri, to arise: see orient

transitive verb

1. to end (a pregnancy) prematurely
2. to cause (an embryo or fetus) to be expelled so as to end a pregnancy
3. to cause to have an abortion
to check (a disease) before fully developed
☆ to cut short (an action or operation of an aircraft, spacecraft, etc.), as because of some failure in the equipment

noun

a premature termination of a flight, mission, etc.

See abort in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb a·bort·ed, a·bort·ing, a·borts

verb, transitive

a. To terminate (a pregnancy) by abortion.
b. To cause the expulsion of (an embryo or fetus) by abortion.
c. To undergo the abortion of (an embryo or fetus).
d. To miscarry (an embryo or fetus).
To terminate (an undertaking or procedure) before implementation or completion: abort the launch of a rocket; abort a computer program.
To stop the progress of (a disease, for example).

verb, intransitive