abuse noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of abuse noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

abuse

noun
 
 
/əˈbjuːs/
 
/əˈbjuːs/
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  1.  
    [uncountable, singular] the use of something in a way that is wrong or harmful synonym misuse
    • alcohol/drug abuse
    • The system of paying cash bonuses is open to abuse (= might be used in the wrong way).
    • The legal system is open to abuse.
    • abuse of something He was arrested on charges of corruption and abuse of power.
    • What she did was an abuse of her position as manager.
    see also racket abuse, racquet abuse, solvent abuse, substance abuse
    Wordfinder
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • alcohol
    • drug
    • solvent
    • …
    verb + abuse
    • prevent
    • stop
    • investigate
    • …
    preposition
    • abuse of
    phrases
    • the abuse of power
    See full entry
  2.  
    [uncountable, plural] unfair, cruel or violent treatment of somebody
    • child abuse
    • sexual abuse
    • reported abuses by the secret police
    • They suffered years of physical abuse.
    see also child abuse, elder abuse, self-abuse
    Extra Examples
    • allegations of child abuse
    • six cases of suspected child abuse
    • allegations of human rights abuses
    • She was subjected to regular sexual abuse.
    • The child had taken a lot of emotional abuse.
    • abuse of prisoners
    Topics Crime and punishmentc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • emotional
    • physical
    • psychological
    • …
    … of abuse
    • case
    verb + abuse
    • commit
    • subject somebody to
    • experience
    • …
    abuse + verb
    • happen
    • occur
    • take place
    • …
    abuse + noun
    • victim
    phrases
    • an allegation of abuse
    • a perpetrator of abuse
    • a victim of abuse
    • …
    See full entry
  3.  
    [uncountable] rude and offensive remarks, usually made when somebody is very angry synonym insult
    • to scream/hurl/shout abuse
    • a stream/torrent of abuse
    • The man burst into a torrent of foul-mouthed racist abuse.
    Extra Examples
    • The team who lost became a target of abuse for angry fans.
    • They had to endure continual racist abuse.
    • He was subjected to a torrent of abuse.
    • Calling somebody stupid is definitely a term of abuse.
    Topics Feelingsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • verbal
    • personal
    • racial
    • …
    … of abuse
    • stream
    • torrent
    verb + abuse
    • hurl
    • scream
    • shout
    • …
    phrases
    • heap abuse on somebody/​something
    • a target for abuse
    • a target of abuse
    • …
    See full entry
    4. Word Originlate Middle English: via Old French from Latin abus- ‘misused’, from the verb abuti, from ab- ‘away’ (i.e. ‘wrongly’) + uti ‘to use’.
See abuse in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee abuse in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: abuse

Nearby words

immunize
verb
 
 
From the Topic
Healthcare
C1
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