CHILD ABUSE

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does child abuse mean? 

• CHILD ABUSE (noun)
  The noun CHILD ABUSE has 1 sense:

1. the physical or emotional or sexual mistreatment of children

  Familiarity information: CHILD ABUSE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHILD ABUSE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The physical or emotional or sexual mistreatment of children

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("child abuse" is a kind of...):

abuse; ill-treatment; ill-usage; maltreatment (cruel or inhumane treatment)

 Context examples 

Child abuse is doing something or failing to do something that results in harm to a child or puts a child at risk of harm.

(Child Abuse, NIH)

Drug abuse also plays a role in many major social problems, such as drugged driving, violence, stress, and child abuse.

(Drug Abuse, NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Child abuse is a serious problem.

(Child Abuse, NIH)