a·buse1 /əˈbjuːs/ ●●○ S3 W3 noun 1 [plural, uncountableU]CRUEL cruel or violent treatment of someone 虐待 several cases of child abuse 数宗虐待儿童案
physical/sexual/racial abuse Many children suffer racial abuse at school. 许多孩子在学校遭受种族虐待。
An independent committee will look into alleged human rights abuses. 一个独立委员会将对涉嫌践踏人权的行为进行调查。
2 [countableC, uncountableU]USE something the use of something in a way that it should not be used 滥用 SYN misuseabuse of government officials’ abuse of power 政府官员的滥用职权
A self-monitoring tax system is clearly open to abuse (=able to be used wrongly). 自我监督的税收制度明显会被滥用。
alcohol/drug abuse (=the practice of drinking too much or taking illegal drugs) 酗酒/吸毒
→ solvent abuse 3 [uncountableU]INSULT rude or offensive things that someone says when they are angry 辱骂,谩骂 vandalism and verbal abuse directed at old people 破坏公共财物和辱骂老人
a torrent/stream of abuse (=a series of rude or angry words) 一通臭骂
shout/hurl/scream abuse at somebody The other driver started hurling abuse at me. 另外一个司机朝我破口大骂起来。
→ a term of abuse at term1(3)