Definition

1. Noun:
   • An abortion-inducing drug: RU 486 is a pharmaceutical substance used to terminate an early pregnancy. It functions by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for maintaining a pregnancy, leading to the detachment and expulsion of the embryo from the uterus.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor prescribed RU 486 for the medical termination.
  • RU 486 is most effective when used within the first few weeks of gestation.

Advanced Usage

• "to administer RU 486": to give or provide the drug as a medical treatment.
  • The clinic will administer RU 486 under medical supervision.

Variants and Related Words

• Mifepristone (n): The generic pharmaceutical name for RU 486.
  • Mifepristone is the active compound in the medication.

Synonyms

• Mifepristone: The scientific and generic name for the drug.
• Abortion pill: A common informal term referring to medications used for medical abortion, often specifically RU 486.

Noun

1. an abortion-inducing drug (trade name RU_486) developed in France; when taken during the first five weeks of pregnancy it blocks the action of progesterone so that the uterus sloughs off the embryo