a•buse

aábuse n
1. the physical or psychological maltreatment of a person or animal
2. the illegal, improper, or harmful use of something, or an illegal, improper, or harmful practice
3. insulting or offensive language
4. the harmful use of drugs or alcohol

v
1. vt to use something in an improper, illegal, or damaging way
2. vt to maltreat a person or animal physically, sexually, or psychologically
3. vt to speak insultingly or offensively to somebody

Encarta¨ World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.