abort Definition

abort
verb aborted, aborting

intr
1. To expel (an embryo or fetus) spontaneously from the uterus before it is capable of surviving independently; to miscarry.
intr
2. 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.
tr & intr
4. 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.

Thesaurus: stop, terminate, halt, end, nullify, cancel, call off; thwart, arrest, check; Antonym: continue.
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.