abuse /əˈbjus/
 (vt.)濫用,侮辱,虐待,辱罵;弊病,陋習


 abuse /əˈbjus/ 名詞
 濫用,虐待


 A·buse v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abused p. pr. & vb. n. Abusing.]
 1. To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to misuse; to put to a bad use; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert; as, to abuse inherited gold; to make an excessive use of; as, to abuse one's authority.
    This principle (if one may so abuse the word) shoots rapidly into popularity.   --Froude.
 2. To use ill; to maltreat; to act injuriously to; to punish or to tax excessively; to hurt; as, to abuse prisoners, to abuse one's powers, one's patience.
 3. To revile; to reproach coarsely; to disparage.
    The . . . tellers of news abused the general.   --Macaulay.
 4. To dishonor. “Shall flight abuse your name?”
 5. To violate; to ravish.
 6. To deceive; to impose on. [Obs.]
    Their eyes red and staring, cozened with a moist cloud, and abused by a double object.   --Jer. Taylor.
 Syn: -- To maltreat; injure; revile; reproach; vilify; vituperate; asperse; traduce; malign.


 A·buse n.
 1. Improper treatment or use; application to a wrong or bad purpose; misuse; as, an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or of privileges or advantages; an abuse of language.
    Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power.   --Madison.
 2. Physical ill treatment; injury. “Rejoice . . . at the abuse of Falstaff.”
 3. A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as, the abuses in the civil service.
    Abuse after disappeared without a struggle..   --Macaulay.
 4. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; virulent condemnation; reviling.
    The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of abuse, came to blows.   --Macaulay.
 5. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. [Obs.]
    Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?   --Shak.
 Abuse of distress Law, a wrongful using of an animal or chattel distrained, by the distrainer.
 Syn: -- Invective; contumely; reproach; scurrility; insult; opprobrium.
 Usage: -- Abuse, Invective. Abuse is generally prompted by anger, and vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is more personal and coarse than invective. Abuse generally takes place in private quarrels; invective in writing or public discussions. Invective may be conveyed in refined language and dictated by indignation against what is blameworthy.

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 abuse
      n 1: cruel or inhumane treatment [syn: maltreatment, ill-treatment,
            ill-usage]
      2: a rude expression intended to offend or hurt; "when a
         student made a stupid mistake he spared them no abuse";
         "they yelled insults at the visiting team" [syn: insult,
          revilement, contumely, vilification]
      3: improper or excessive use [syn: misuse]
      v 1: treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always
           stepping on others to get ahead" [syn: mistreat, maltreat,
            ill-use, step, ill-treat]
      2: change the inherent purpose or function of something; "Don't
         abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused
         the funds intended for the health care of his workers"
         [syn: pervert, misuse]
      3: use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused
         the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry
         mother shouted at the teacher" [syn: clapperclaw, blackguard,
          shout]