abuse noun
1 wrong/bad use of sth
ADJ. alcohol, drug, solvent, substance (= drugs or solvents)
VERB + ABUSE be open to The legal system is open to abuse.
PHRASES the abuse of power
2 bad, usually violent treatment of sb
ADJ. emotional, physical, sex/sexual | child, elder victims of child abuse | human rights ~s allegations of human rights abuses | alleged, suspected
QUANT. case six cases of suspected child abuse
VERB + ABUSE carry out, subject sb to She was subjected to regular sexual abuse. | suffer, take The child had taken a lot of emotional abuse. | suspect sb of
ABUSE + VERB happen, occur, take place
PHRASES an allegation of abuse, a perpetrator of abuse, a victim of abuse
3 insulting words
ADJ. verbal | personal, racial
QUANT. stream, torrent He was subjected to a torrent of abuse.
VERB + ABUSE hurl, scream, shout, shower sb with, subject sb to, yell | endure They had to endure continual racial abuse.
PHRASES heap abuse on sb/sth Abuse and scorn were heaped on the proposals. | a target for/of abuse The team who lost became a target of abuse for angry fans. | a term of abuse Calling someone stupid is definitely a term of abuse.
abuse verb
ADV. emotionally, mentally, physically, sexually, verbally All the children had been physically and emotionally abused.
You can also check other dicts: abuse (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition