The sudden breaking away of a portion from a mass.
'The most common symptom of abruption is vaginal bleeding after 20 weeks of pregnancy.'
'Other clinical problems associated with the placenta are placenta praevia, in which the placenta is located below the fetus, and placental abruption, in which the placenta separates prematurely from the wall of the uterus.'
((n.) A sudden breaking off; a violent separation of bodies.)
Origin:
Early 17th century: from Latin abruptio(n)-, from abrumpere ‘break off’ (see abrupt).
