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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
abort verb (aborted, aborting) 1 intrans to expel (an embryo or fetus) spontaneously from the uterus before it is capable of surviving independently; to miscarry. 2 intrans said of a baby: to be lost in this way. 3 to induce termination of pregnancy, by surgical procedures or the use of drugs, before the embryo or fetus is capable of surviving independently. 4 tr & intr to stop (a plan, space flight, etc), or to be stopped, earlier than expected and before reaching a successful conclusion, usually because of technical problems or danger. 5 biol to fail to grow or develop to maturity. 6 computing to stop the execution of (a program) before it has been completed, either because it is unsuitable or because it cannot continue owing to an error or system failure.
ETYMOLOGY: 16c: from Latin abortus miscarried, from aboriri to miscarry.
abort verb (aborted, aborting) 1 intrans to expel (an embryo or fetus) spontaneously from the uterus before it is capable of surviving independently; to miscarry. 2 intrans said of a baby: to be lost in this way. 3 to induce termination of pregnancy, by surgical procedures or the use of drugs, before the embryo or fetus is capable of surviving independently. 4 tr & intr to stop (a plan, space flight, etc), or to be stopped, earlier than expected and before reaching a successful conclusion, usually because of technical problems or danger. 5 biol to fail to grow or develop to maturity. 6 computing to stop the execution of (a program) before it has been completed, either because it is unsuitable or because it cannot continue owing to an error or system failure.
ETYMOLOGY: 16c: from Latin abortus miscarried, from aboriri to miscarry.
abort verb (aborted, aborting) 1 intrans to expel (an embryo or fetus) spontaneously from the uterus before it is capable of surviving independently; to miscarry. 2 intrans said of a baby: to be lost in this way. 3 to induce termination of pregnancy, by surgical procedures or the use of drugs, before the embryo or fetus is capable of surviving independently. 4 tr & intr to stop (a plan, space flight, etc), or to be stopped, earlier than expected and before reaching a successful conclusion, usually because of technical problems or danger. 5 biol to fail to grow or develop to maturity. 6 computing to stop the execution of (a program) before it has been completed, either because it is unsuitable or because it cannot continue owing to an error or system failure.
ETYMOLOGY: 16c: from Latin abortus miscarried, from aboriri to miscarry.
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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