abusea‧buse2 /əˈbjuːz/ ●●○ verb [transitive] 
She was sexually abused as a child.2to deliberately use something for the wrong purpose or for your own advantage: Williams abused his position as mayor to give jobs to his friends. Morris abused the trust the firm had shown in him. people who abuse the systemabuse alcohol/drugs The proportion of drinkers who abuse alcohol is actually quite small.3to say rude or offensive things to someone SYN insult: Many soldiers in Belfast are verbally abused. He came to the help of another driver who was being racially abused by three white passengers.4to treat something so badly that you start to destroy it: James abused his body for years with heroin and cocaine.—abuser noun [countable]
WORD ORIGINabuse2
Origin:
1400-1500 French abuser, from Latin abusus, past participle of abuti, from ab- ‘away’ + uti ‘to use’VERB TABLE
abuse
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | abuse |
| he, she, it | abuses | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | abused |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have abused |
| he, she, it | has abused | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had abused |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will abuse |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have abused |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am abusing |
| he, she, it | is abusing | |
| you, we, they | are abusing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was abusing |
| you, we, they | were abusing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been abusing |
| he, she, it | has been abusing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been abusing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be abusing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been abusing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- athletes abusing their bodies with steroids
- Erica runs a hostel for women who have been abused by their husbands.
- Erik testified he was sexually abused by his father since the age of 6.
- Local politicians abused their privileges to make themselves rich.
- Many of the kids are abusing drugs.
- Most people on welfare do not abuse the system.
- My father abused us for years.
- people who abuse the welfare system
- She was sexually abused as a child.
- Some lawyers seem to enjoy abusing witnesses.
- Some nursing home patients were neglected or abused.
- The men were getting drunk on cheap beer and some had started abusing passers-by.
- The player was reported to the tournament director for verbally abusing match officials.
- As we get older, we may be abused by other authority figures - teachers, doctors, bosses.
- Eleanor just abused him thoroughly, which wasn't very womanly in his opinion.
- He said du Pont frequently carried a. 38-caliber pistol on the estate and abused cocaine and alcohol.
- I ended up in Kibble List D. I just abused the teachers.
- It exists in every civilised society so that Governments, the rich and the powerful can not abuse their position.
- Time allowed 00:21 Read in studio A man who sexually abused a schoolgirl has been given probation.
- Unfortunately no management principle discussed in this book is more abused.
Longman Language Activatorto treat a person or animal in a cruel way
· My father drank too much and was often very cruel to my mother.· It is unspeakably cruel to the prisoners to house them in such conditions.
to deliberately treat a person or animal in a cruel way, especially when you are responsible for looking after them: · It looks as though this dog has been mistreated by its owner.· Neighbours were sure that the young couple had been ill-treating their children.
to be cruel to someone who is weaker, younger, or has less authority than you: · A group of girls would bully the younger kids, and force them to give them money.· The court heard that the head of department would routinely bully and humiliate workers.
to treat someone in your family or someone you are responsible for in a cruel way, especially violently or sexually: · My father abused us for years.· Erica runs a hostel for women who have been abused by their husbands.sexually abuse (=force someone to take part in sexual activities): · Erik testified he was sexually abused by his father since the age of 6.
to be cruel to a person or group of people over a period of time, because of their race or their religious or political beliefs: · Countries all over Europe have persecuted gypsies for centuries.· Human rights advocates say racial minorities continue to be persecuted.
informal to treat someone as if they were completely worthless and not care about their feelings: · She treats him like dirt but he still loves her.· I wanted us to be friends again, but I wasn't prepared to be treated like dirt to achieve it.
informal to choose someone from a group to treat cruelly and unfairly especially by repeatedly criticizing them: · Bullies usually pick on younger children.· Why don't you pick on someone your own size?· Older members of staff often pick on an apprentice and make his life a misery.
also victimise British if a person or group is victimized , they are treated unfairly, for example because of their beliefs, their race, or because they are weak: · He wasn't happy at the school and said he was victimized because of his colour.· The company says she was not dismissed because of her political activities but she claims she was victimized.
to be very rude to someone to be very rude and unpleasant to someone, either by saying rude things to them or by making them feel stupid or unimportant: · Jarvis was fired for insulting a customer.· They offered me $20 for a whole day's work - I felt really insulted.
to speak or behave towards someone in a way that offends them: · My mother doesn't like my boyfriend because he was rude to her once.· You shouldn't let her be so rude to you.
to say a lot of rude, offensive, unpleasant things to someone, especially when you are angry with them: · The men were getting drunk on cheap beer and some had started abusing passers-by.verbally abuse (=to say something very rude to someone): · The player was reported to the tournament director for verbally abusing match officials.
to shout a lot of rude and offensive things at someone: · The crowd screamed abuse as the two men accused of the murder left the court in police vans.· Strikers outside the factory gate were shouting abuse at anybody who tried to get past them.
to try to offend someone by calling them rude names in the way that children do: · He tried to make Oliver cry by hitting him, pulling his hair, and calling him names.· "She said I was a fat pig.'' "Oh, I've been called far worse names than that.''
if an action or someone's behaviour is an insult , it offends you because it shows no respect: · The pay offer of 2% was an insult.be an insult to: · The girl's father claimed the portrait revealing his daughter's face was an insult to Islam.
to attack or harm someone in a sexual way to force someone to have sex when they do not want to: · He was accused of raping his ex-girlfriend.· The woman was raped and then murdered by her kidnapper.
the crime of forcing someone to have sex when they do not want to: · It was not the first time he had been accused of rape.· Rape victims receive special counselling and are treated very sensitively.· A woman's sexual history should not be introduced in a rape trial.
to harm a child by forcing them to have sex or touching them in a sexual way, especially over a long period of time: · He had been sexually abusing his daughter since she was eleven years old.
to harm or upset someone by touching them in a sexual way: · Her father had molested her and her sisters when they were children.
when someone, especially someone you work with, regularly makes sexual remarks, looks at you in a sexual way, or tries to touch you in a sexual way that you do not want. Sexual harassment can be punished by law: · Victims of sexual harassment are often afraid to report it in case they lose their jobs.· She successfully prosecuted her boss for sexual harassment.
to use something wrongly to use something wrongly, for a purpose that was not intended: · Measures must be taken to prevent confidential data from being misused.· He is accused of misusing public funds.
to use something for a bad purpose, especially to use a position of power or trust in order to get a personal advantage: · Local politicians abused their privileges to make themselves rich.· people who abuse the welfare system
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She was sexually abused as a child. Williams abused his position as mayor to give jobs to his friends. Morris abused the trust the firm had shown in him. people who abuse the system The proportion of drinkers who abuse alcohol is actually quite small. Many soldiers in Belfast are verbally abused. He came to the help of another driver who was being racially abused by three white passengers.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES alcohol abuse (=when someone drinks too much) flagrant violations of human rights Barker subjected his victim to awful abuse. a tirade of abuse When I asked him to move, he unleashed a torrent of abuse. verbal abuse (=cruel words) from other kids on the streetCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
She was sexually abused as a child. Williams abused his position as mayor to give jobs to his friends. Morris abused the trust the firm had shown in him. people who abuse the system The proportion of drinkers who abuse alcohol is actually quite small. Many soldiers in Belfast are verbally abused. He came to the help of another driver who was being racially abused by three white passengers. alcohol abuse (=when someone drinks too much) (=use your authority in a bad way)· The mayor was accused of abusing his authority and taking bribes.
(=treating children in a very bad way, especially sexually)· He was arrested on suspicion of child abuse.
(=in a family, especially by a husband towards his wife)· The organization supports women who are victims of domestic violence.
(=taking drugs)· She is being treated for drug abuse.
flagrant violations of human rights· He had suffered physical abuse at the hands of his parents.
· Her father had physically abused her.
(=use your level or rank wrongly)· He abused his position as a doctor.
(=a wrong or unfair use of power)· This cover-up is a scandalous abuse of power.
(=insulting remarks based on someone's race)· Their children had begun to face racial abuse on the streets and in school.
· He was surrounded by a group of boys who shouted abuse at him.
Barker subjected his victim to awful abuse. (=a word that is offensive or deliberately rude)· ‘Geek’ is used as a term of abuse.
a tirade of abuse When I asked him to move, he unleashed a torrent of abuse. verbal abuse (=cruel words) from other kids on the street· Even though he never physically abused me, the verbal abuse was frightening.· He claimed that both parents psychologically and physically abused him.· In 1986, a father of fifteen children then living in South Ronaldsay was jailed for physically abusing them.· Boyle cited a recent example of an elderly woman who was being physically abused.· He talked of his harsh, unsympathetic upbringing in which his often drunken father physically abused his wife and children.· BWhile not physically abused, Tamika, like most children of addicts, is emotionally starved.· My stepfather was strict and didn't let us have friends in the house; he physically abused me but not sexually.· A constellation of social difficulties has also been found to characterise parents who severely physically abuse their children.
· Lazio's Sinisa Mihailovic was banned for two matches for racially abusing Patrick Vieira.· They said both men had been racially abused before they died.· Mr Boyle told the jury that he had never racially abused or harassed Errol.
· Counselling & Therapy with women who have been sexually abused as children on Feb 17.· She noted that exceptions usually made are for children under the age of 10 who have been sexually abused.· This is also possible in children who have been sexually abused.· So are five former high-school students or others whom Hudson admitted sexually abusing or trying to abuse when he was a coach.· Abused A 13-year-old boy, the son of a Hollywood dentist, has alleged the 34-year-old multi-millionaire sexually abused him.· Potentially explosive subtext -- Annie was sexually abused as a child -- is pretty much left in the background.· They said parents sexually abused their children as part of a satanic ritual, and that these practices were widespread.· And sexually abused and physically battered kids run away from home.
· Less so is a creeping and curious menace of players being verbally abused.· The rest are elbows delivered, punches thrown, verbally abusing referees, skipping All-Star media day, obscene gestures, tantrum-throwing.· Referee Alf Buksh is understood to have complained in his match report of being verbally abused by officials from both teams.· Afterward, the plaintiffs asked for a court order prohibiting Lawrence from verbally abusing them.· The last time I had it, a woman reporter was humiliated and verbally abused in a National Football League locker room.· Rosemary was frequently absent or tardy and alternated between verbally abusing her teachers and flat-out ignoring them.
NOUN· Clearly many issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution, and even poverty are socially constructed problems.
· As we get older, we may be abused by other authority figures - teachers, doctors, bosses.· Local magistrates also abused their authority in order to influence voters.· Old mouth McEnroe, who can't stop himself from foully abusing anyone in authority with whom he disagrees.
· Social workers have a key role to play when some one suspects that a child is being abused.· School officials said that prior to Thanksgiving there were no indications to teachers or other educators that the children were being abused.· How do social workers go about investigating these complaints, and what leads them towards deciding that a child has been abused?· Outside of behaviors falling under the child abuse and neglect laws, there were virtually none.· Paying to view children being abused is causing the demand.· Also patrons of child abuse vic-tims.· We would not wish to outlaw parenthood on the grounds that some children are abused, even murdered, in the home.· Roughly half of those women abused as children had been abused in the past year.
· Clearly many issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution, and even poverty are socially constructed problems.· Drinking and drug abuse also lower immunity and tend to increase risky behaviors.
· In fact, around one-half of the cases can be identified solely from the headlines as persons abusing their positions of trust.· During his trial much was made of the way he had abused his position as a doctor.· It exists in every civilised society so that Governments, the rich and the powerful can not abuse their position.· Mostly he did not abuse this position, for he is a cautious man.· The Labour Party has not yet decided how it can stop a single-chamber Parliament from abusing its position.· At least, she hoped it was dignity, because she tried not to abuse her position of power.· But what makes Courtney especially dangerous is not that he abused his position as a doctor.· Predatory behaviour was discussed above, in the context of a firm abusing a dominant position.
· Nor do I deny that they sometimes abuse their power and are unfair to individuals.· Most writers abuse their power by exploiting their Sources.· Moscow is a grey city; comfort there is always tied to power, and power too frequently to abuse of power.· He now faces charges of having abused his power while in office.· At least, she hoped it was dignity, because she tried not to abuse her position of power.· I always tried to not abuse that power.· Friends of the victims demonstrated on the streets, calling for action against the culprits, who had abused their power.· The real Nixon was not a benign statesman but a ruthless, corrupt president who abused power on a spectacular scale.
· Those privy to sensitive information about mergers or acquisitions of companies worth millions or billions of pounds must not abuse that privilege.· The Committee criticized Gingrich for abusing mailing privileges and for failing to report a real estate deal.
· Estimates of substance abuse among the population range from 5 percent to 37 percent.
· It's encouraging them all to bloody well abuse the system so it is.· Critics say professional athletes have been abusing the generous California system by filing claims from out of state.· It's to stop people abusing the system.· Certainly, there are those among them who abuse the system.· They were open to abuse, and their system of controls did not always work.· They believed their children were being abused by the system set up to protect them.
· In fact, around one-half of the cases can be identified solely from the headlines as persons abusing their positions of trust.· But some doctors have a history of abusing that trust for profit, prescribing unnecessary and ineffective diet regimes to all comers.· Nevertheless, the whole basis of survey work is one of trust and relatively few interviewers abuse this trust.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1to treat someone in a cruel and violent way, often sexuallysexually/physically abused- Community Care believes elder abuse is a major problem.
- In the overall case, the four-year statute of limitations on alleged fraud, theft and financial elder abuse expires in February.
- Intent could be a factor in defining elder abuse.
- Report on local authority guidelines on elder abuse.
- Researching the prevalence of elder abuse is notoriously difficult, and information on the abuse of black elders is non-existent.
- The incidence of elder abuse is hard to quantify.
- Oliver Stone, operating under a hail of criticism, was finishing a revisionist movie about the Kennedy assassination.
- She heard the boys hurling abuse at her, shouting to her to stop, but she shut her ears to them.
- There is not much to be achieved by hurling insults.
- When I first met her she had been hurling abuse at her daughters-in-law who took no notice whatsoever.
She was sexually abused as a child.2to deliberately use something for the wrong purpose or for your own advantage: Williams abused his position as mayor to give jobs to his friends. Morris abused the trust the firm had shown in him. people who abuse the systemabuse alcohol/drugs The proportion of drinkers who abuse alcohol is actually quite small.3to say rude or offensive things to someone SYN insult: Many soldiers in Belfast are verbally abused. He came to the help of another driver who was being racially abused by three white passengers.4to treat something so badly that you start to destroy it: James abused his body for years with heroin and cocaine.—abuser noun [countable]