/ nɪˈglekt; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] to fail to take care of sb/sth :
She denies neglecting her baby.
The buildings had been neglected for years.
2.
[ vn ] to not give enough attention to sth :
Dance has been neglected by television.
She has neglected her studies.
3.
[ v to inf ] ( formal ) to fail or forget to do sth that you ought to do
SYN omit :
You neglected to mention the name of your previous employer.
—see also negligence
■ noun
[ U ] neglect (of sth/sb) the fact of not giving enough care or attention to sth/sb; the state of not receiving enough care or attention :
The law imposes penalties for the neglect of children.
The buildings are crumbling from years of neglect .
The place smelled of decay and neglect.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: from Latin neglect- disregarded, from the verb neglegere , from neg- not + legere choose, pick up.