abort

¹abort

verb \ə-ˈbȯrt\

Definition of ABORT

intransitive verb

1

: to bring forth stillborn, nonviable, or premature offspring

2

: to become checked in development so as to degenerate or remain rudimentary

3

: to terminate a procedure prematurely <the pilot decided to abort due to mechanical difficulties>

transitive verb

1

a : to induce the abortion of or give birth to prematurely

b : to terminate the pregnancy of before term

2

a : to terminate prematurely : cancel <abort a project> <abort a spaceflight>

b : to stop in the early stages <abort a disease>

— abort·er noun

Examples of ABORT

1. They decided to abort the pregnancy.
2. abort the launch of a rocket
3. I suggest that you abort the project.
4. The mission had to be aborted.
5. When problems occurred during the launch, it was necessary to abort.

Origin of ABORT

Latin abortus, past participle of aboriri to miscarry, from ab- + oriri to rise, be born — more at orient

First Known Use: 1580

Related to ABORT

Synonyms

abandon, cancel, call, call off, cry off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke, scrap, scrub

Antonyms

continue, keep

Related Words

abrogate, annul, invalidate, nullify, void, write off; recant, retract, take back, withdraw; countermand, reverse, roll back; break off, discontinue, end, halt, stop, terminate; hold back, interrupt, suspend; give up, relinquish, surrender

Near Antonyms

engage, pledge, promise; begin, commence, initiate, start; take on, take up, undertake

Rhymes with ABORT

airport, amort, aport, assort, athwart, backcourt, bellwort, birthwort, bistort, blood sport, Bridgeport, carport, cavort, cohort, colewort, comport, consort, contort, crosscourt, deport, disport, distort, downcourt, effort, escort, exhort, export, extort, fall short, figwort, forecourt, for short, free port, frontcourt, glasswort, Gosport, Gulfport, half-court, homeport, home port, in short, jetport, lousewort, lungwort, madwort, milkwort, mugwort, Newport, outport, passport, presort, purport, ragwort, report, re-sort, resort, retort, sandwort, seaport, sell short, Shreveport, spaceport, spearwort, spoilsport, Stockport, support, toothwort, transport

²abort

noun

Definition of ABORT

: the premature termination of a flight (as of an aircraft or spacecraft), a mission, or an action or procedure relating to a flight <a launch abort>

First Known Use of ABORT

1944

abort

intransitive verb \ə-ˈbȯ(ə)rt\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of ABORT

: to bring forth premature or stillborn offspring <the patient aborted spontaneously>—compare miscarry

transitive verb

1

a : to induce the abortion of or give birth to prematurely b : to terminate the pregnancy of before term

2

: to stop in the early stages <abort a disease>

—abort·er noun