1. [n]  cruel or inhumane treatment
2. [n]  improper or excessive use
3. [n]  a rude expression intended to offend or hurt; "when a student made a stupid mistake he spared them no abuse"; "they yelled insults at the visiting team"
4. [v]  change the inherent purpose or function of something; "Don't abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers"
5. [v]  use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry mother shouted at the teacher"
6. [v]  treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"

ABUSE is a 5 letter word that starts with A.

1. \A*buse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abused}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Abusing}.] [F. abuser; L. abusus, p. p. of abuti to abuse,
   misuse; ab + uti to use. See {Use}.]
   1. 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.
            This principle (if one may so abuse the word) shoots
            rapidly into popularity.              --Froude.
   2. 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.
   3. To revile; to reproach coarsely; to disparage.
            The . . . tellers of news abused the general.
                                                  --Macaulay.
   4. To dishonor. ``Shall flight abuse your name?'' --Shak.
   5. To violate; to ravish. --Spenser.
   6. To deceive; to impose on. [Obs.]
            Their eyes red and staring, cozened with a moist
            cloud, and abused by a double object. --Jer. Taylor.
   Syn: To maltreat; injure; revile; reproach; vilify;
        vituperate; asperse; traduce; malign.
   

2. \A*buse"\, n. [F. abus, L. abusus, fr. abuti. See {Abuse},
   v. t.]
   1. 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.
            Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty,
            as well as by the abuses of power.    --Madison.
   2. Physical ill treatment; injury. ``Rejoice . . . at the
      abuse of Falstaff.'' --Shak.
   3. A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as,
      the abuses in the civil service.
            Abuse after disappeared without a struggle..
                                                  --Macaulay.
   4. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive
      language; virulent condemnation; reviling.
            The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of
            abuse, came to blows.                 --Macaulay.
   5. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. [Obs.]
            Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? --Shak.
   {Abuse of distress} (Law), a wrongful using of an animal or
      chattel distrained, by the distrainer.
   Syn: Invective; contumely; reproach; scurrility; insult;
        opprobrium.
   Usage: {Abuse}, {Invective}. Abuse is generally prompted by
          anger, and vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is
          more personal and coarse than invective. Abuse
          generally takes place in private quarrels; invective
          in writing or public discussions. Invective may be
          conveyed in refined language and dictated by
          indignation against what is blameworthy. --C. J.
          Smith.