intransitive verb

1. to give birth before the embryo or fetus is viable; have a miscarriage
2. to fail to be completed
3. Biol. to fail to develop; stay rudimentary

Etymology: 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. 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
2. to check (a disease) before fully developed
3. ☆ to cut short (an action or operation of an aircraft, spacecraft, etc.), as because of some failure in the equipment

noun