Ab

noun

Abdominal muscle.

noun

An abscess caused by injecting an illegal drug, usually heroin.

verb

To abseil.

1. (now rare outside medicine) To miscarry; to bring forth (non-living) offspring prematurely.
2. To cause a premature termination of (a fetus); to end a pregnancy before term.
3. To end prematurely; to stop in the preliminary stages; to turn back.
4. To stop or fail at something in the preliminary stages.
5. To become checked in normal development, so as either to remain rudimentary or shrink away wholly; to cease organic growth before maturation; to become sterile.
6. To cause an organism to develop minimally; to cause rudimentary development to happen; to prevent maturation.
7. To abandon a mission at any point after the beginning of the mission and prior to its completion.
8. To terminate a mission involving a missile or rocket; to destroy a missile or rocket prematurely.
9. To terminate a process prior to completion.

1. The expulsion from the womb of a foetus or embryo before it is fully developed, with loss of the foetus; either naturally as a spontaneous abortion (now usually called a miscarriage), or deliberately as an induced abortion.
2. An aborted foetus; an abortus.
3. A misshapen person or thing; a monstrosity.
4. Failure or abandonment of a project, promise, goal etc.
5. Arrest of development of any organ, so that it remains an imperfect formation or is absorbed.
6. The cessation of an illness or disease at a very early stage.

1. On all sides; around.

   I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me.

2. Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down.

   Bits of old machinery were lying about.

3. From one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity.

   walking about;  rushing about;  jumping about;  thrashing about

4. Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity.

   messing about;  fooling about;  loafing about

5. Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost.

   Dinner's about ready.

6. Near; in the vicinity.
7. To a reversed order; half round; facing in the opposite direction; from a contrary point of view.

   to face about;  to turn oneself about

8. In succession; one after another; in the course of events.
9. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside; in circumference.

   a mile about, and a third of a mile across

1. In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of.

   The snake was coiled about his ankle.

2. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.

   He was well known about town.

3. Indicates that something will happen very soon; indicates a plan or intention to do something.
4. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of; to affect.

   He talked a lot about his childhood.

5. Concerned with; engaged in; intent on.

   to be about one's business

6. Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.

   I can't find my reading glasses, but they must be somewhere about the house.

7. On one's person; nearby the person.

   I had no weapon about me but a stick.

8. In or near, as in mental faculties or in the possession of; under the control of; at one's command; in one's makeup.

   He has his wits about him.

noun

The early stages of; the beginning process; the start.