What does  "ABORT" and "ABORTION" mean?

TO "ABORT

• to bring forth prematurely or stillborn offspring.

• to become checked in development so as to degenerate or remain rudimentary.

• to induce the abortion of or give birth to prematurely.

• to terminate the pregnancy of before term.

• to terminate prematurely.

• to stop in the early stages.

"ABORTION" MEANS:

• the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus.

• a spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks (up to 9th month) of gestation.

• an induced expulsion of a human fetus. (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary)

Today, abortion is commonly referred to as pregnancy termination.