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Definition of: abortion
(ə·bôr′shən) noun
1. The expulsion of a fetus prematurely, when non-viable; miscarriage.
2. A miscarriage produced artificially.
3. The defective result of a premature birth; a monstrosity.
4. Biol. Partial or complete arrest of development, as of an embryo.
5. Failure of anything to progress or develop normally or as expected. [<L abortio, -onis < aboriri. See ABORT.]
— a·bor′tion·al adj.
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