preˈterm, a. and adv. Obstetrics.
A. adj. [pre- B. 2.] Born or occurring after a pregnancy that lasted significantly less than the normal time; spec. (see quot. 19772).
| 1928 A. Gesell Infancy & Human Growth xv. 300 The pre-term child is viable even though he may have completed but three-quarters of his allotted uterine life-period. 1933, 1971 [see post-term a.]. 1977 Lancet 11 June 1255/1 Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with an increased proportion of pre-term deliveries. Ibid. 30 July 246/1 The terms ‘prematurity’ and ‘immaturity’, with their vague and multiple meanings, have been replaced by the precise terms ‘low birthweight’ (under 2500 g) and ‘preterm’ (less than 37 completed weeks). |
B. adv. [pre- B. 2 c.] Before the end of the normal period of pregnancy.
| 1977 Lancet 9 July 87/1 We gave pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats 4 mg/kg indomethacin..and killed the fetuses at cæsarean section shortly pre-term. |