vt physical ill treatment; injury.
2. abuse ·vt to dishonor.
3. abuse ·vt violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child.
4. abuse ·vt to deceive; to impose on.
5. abuse ·vt to violate; to ravish.
6. abuse ·vt a corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as, the abuses in the civil service.
7. abuse ·vt to revile; to reproach coarsely; to disparage.
8. abuse ·vt vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; virulent condemnation; reviling.
9. abuse ·vt 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.
10. abuse ·vt 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.
11. abuse ·vt 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.