n 1  :  improper or excessive use or treatment <drug >  - see SUBSTANCE ABUSE   2  :  physical maltreatment: as  a  :  the act of violating sexually  :  RAPE  b  under some statutes  :  rape or indecent assault not amounting to rape
vt, abused  abus*ing  1  :  to put to a wrong or improper use < drugs>   2  :  to treat so as to injure or damage < a child>   3 a  :  MASTURBATE  b  :  to subject to abuse and esp. to rape or indecent assault abus*able adj abus*er n 
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  abi·es  abs 
 
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