abuse

Pronunciation

noun

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /əˈbjuːs/, SAMPA: /@"bju:s/
• (US) enPR: əbyo͞os', IPA ^(key): /əˈbjus/, SAMPA: /@"bjus/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

verb

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /əˈbjuːz/, SAMPA: /@"bju:z</
• (US) enPR: əbyo͞oz', IPA ^(key): /əˈbjuz/, SAMPA: /@"bjuz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular abuse

Plural abuses

1. (uncountable) Abuse is touching or acting towards someone in a way that will likely hurt them.

   The girls suffered terrible physical and sexual abuse from their father.

2. (countable & uncountable) An abuse is an act of using something in the wrong way.

Synonyms

• misuse

Verb

Plain form abuse

Third-person singular abuses

Past tense abused

Past participle abused

Present participle abusing

1. (transitive) If you abuse something, you misuse it; you use something improperly.
2. (transitive) If you abuse something, you injure it; you hurt it; you treat it with cruelty or damage it.
3. (transitive) If you abuse somebody, you rape them; you assault them.
4. (transitive) If you abuse somebody, you berate them; you insult or revile them.

   Child abuse is prohibited in America.

Related words

• abusive
• abusable
• abuser