[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/abuse.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / abuse

[← A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/A/)

# abuse

«abuse» in Mova's school dictionary: **Using something wrongly or too much, so it does harm:…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 3 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (abuse — uncountable; an abuse); verb (abuse, abuses, abused, abusing)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Using something wrongly or too much, so it does harm: drug abuse, abuse of power. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#m1)

2) Cruel or violent treatment of a person or animal. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#m2)

3) Rude, insulting words: shouting abuse. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#m3)

4) (verb) To treat someone cruelly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#m4)

5) (verb) To use something badly or unfairly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#m5)

6) To abuse someone can also mean to insult them with rude words. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#m6)

### sense in the lessons

In safety lessons, pupils learn that abuse of a child is never their fault and that they should tell a trusted adult or call a helpline. In news and social studies: abuse of power, animal abuse. In sport, players can be punished for verbal abuse. Phrases: verbal abuse, abuse of power, report abuse.

### examples

- If anyone hurts you, it is abuse; tell a trusted adult. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#x1)
- The fans shouted abuse at the referee. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#x2)
- Animal abuse is a crime. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#x3)
- He abused his power as captain. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#x4)
- Don't abuse the trust your friends give you. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#x5)
- The website has a button to report abuse. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#x6)
- The Lion abused him as a traitor. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/#x7)

### note

The noun ends in an s sound (a-BYOOSS); the verb ends in a z sound (a-BYOOZ). Adjective: abusive. If you feel unsafe, talk to a teacher, parent or a child helpline.

### In the corpora

- [Trolling means sending many cruel messages online; you can disagree strongly with someone without abusing them.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/47-viral-rumours-cancellations-fakes-and-apologies/14/)
- [Many grassroots referees are teenagers, and abuse from the touchline is a big reason referees give up.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/medicine/65-var-rows-referees-fans-and-rivalries/8/)
- [Many grassroots referees are teenagers, and abuse from the touchline is a big reason referees quit.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/medicine/68-the-coach-who-shouts-and-parents-on-the-touchline/11/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «abuse» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/abuse/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.