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

abortˈiveness noun

abortuary /ə-börtˈū-ə-ri/ noun

(from abortion and mortuary) an anti-abortion term for an abortion clinic

abortion pill noun

A drug taken orally that brings about abortion

contagious abortion

Contagious bacterial infections of cattle and of horses, causing abortion

spontaneous /spon-tāˈnyəs or -ni-əs/

1. Of one's free will
2. Acting by its own impulse or natural law
3. Produced of itself
4. Impulsive
5. Unpremeditated

spontaneity /-tə-nēˈi-ti or -nāˈi-ti/ noun

spontāˈneously adverb

spontāˈneousness noun

spontaneous abortion noun

Miscarriage

spontaneous behaviour noun (behaviourism)

Behaviour occurring in the apparent absence of any stimuli

spontaneous combustion noun

Catching fire by causes at work within, esp slow oxidation of a mass of matter

spontaneous generation noun

The supposed production of living organisms from non-living matter

spontaneous remission noun

Recovery without treatment