preterm: Meaning and Definition of

pre•term

Pronunciation: (prē-tûrm'), [key]
— adj.
  1. occurring earlier in pregnancy than expected; premature: preterm labor.
—n.
  1. a baby born prematurely, esp. one born before the 37th week of pregnancy and weighing less than 5 lb. (2.5 kg).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.