Abortion /(ȧ*bôr"shŭn)/

A·bor·tion

Abortion

n.
  1. The act of giving premature birth; particularly, the expulsion of the human fetus prematurely, or before it is capable of sustaining life; miscarriage.
  2. The immature product of an untimely birth.
  3. Arrest of development of any organ, so that it remains an imperfect formation or is absorbed. (Biol.)
  4. Any fruit or produce that does not come to maturity, or anything which in its progress, before it is matured or perfect; a complete failure; as, his attempt proved an abortion.
  5. the removal of a fetus from the womb prior to normal delivery in a manner such as to cause the death of the fetus; also called voluntary abortion, or when performed by a physician, therapeutic abortion.
  6. something considered to be a repulsive or monstrous variant of a normal object; a monstrosity.