abort /ə-börtˈ/

1. To miscarry in birth
2. (of a baby) to be lost in this way
3. To fail before getting fully under way or reaching a viable stage of development
4. To come to nothing

1. To cause to abort
2. To check or call off (an attack, mission, etc) at an early stage
3. To stop (eg the flight of a rocket) in emergency before completion of mission
4. To abandon (a computer activity), usu because an error has been made or because there has been a program or system failure

An instance of abortion (esp of a rocket launch)

aborteeˈ noun

A woman who has an abortion

aborticide /ə-börtˈi-sīd/ noun

1. The killing of a fetus in the womb
2. A drug or agent causing this, an abortifacient

abortifaˈcient /-i-fāˈshənt or -shi-ənt/ adjective

Causing abortion

A drug or other means of causing abortion

aborˈtion noun

1. The premature expulsion of an embryo or a fetus, either occurring naturally (spontaneous abortion) or by artificial means (induced abortion), esp in the first three months of pregnancy
2. The procuring of an induced abortion
3. Arrest of development
4. The result of such arrest
5. Anything that fails in the course of coming into being
6. A misshapen or ill-contrived thing (offensive sl)

aborˈtional adjective

1. Relating to abortion
2. Dreadful or terrible (informal)

aborˈtionist noun

1. A person who performs abortions, esp illegally
2. A person who is in favour of abortion on demand

aborˈtive adjective

1. Born before due time
2. Unsuccessful
3. Brought out or produced in an imperfect condition
4. Abortifacient
5. Checked in development

abortˈively adverb

• vestry-clerks
• vestryman
• vestrymen
• vestry-room
• vestry-rooms
• vestrywoman
• vests
• vestural
• vesture
• vestured
• vesturer
• vesturers
• vestures
• vesturing
• Vesuvian
• vesuvianite
• vesuvianites
• Vesuvians
• vet
• vetch
• vetches
• vetchier
• vetchiest
• vetchling
• vetchlings