abun|dant|ly /əbʌ ndəntli/
1 ADV [ADV adj] If something is abundantly clear, it is extremely obvious. □ He made it abundantly clear that anybody who disagrees with his policies will not last long.
2 ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] Something that occurs abundantly is present in large quantities. □ …a plant that grows abundantly in the United States.
abuse ◆◆◇ (abuses , abusing , abused ) The noun is pronounced /əbjuː s/. The verb is pronounced /əbjuː z/. 1 N‑UNCOUNT Abuse of someone is cruel and violent treatment of them. □ …investigation of alleged child abuse. □ …victims of sexual and physical abuse. □ …controversy over human rights abuses.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Abuse is extremely rude and insulting things that people say when they are angry. □ I was left shouting abuse as the car sped off.
3 N‑VAR Abuse of something is the use of it in a wrong way or for a bad purpose. □ [+ of ] What went on here was an abuse of power. □ …drug and alcohol abuse.
4 VERB If someone is abused , they are treated cruelly and violently. □ [be V -ed] Janet had been abused by her father since she was eleven. □ [V n] …parents who feel they cannot cope or might abuse their children. □ [V -ed] …those who work with abused children. ● abus|er (abusers ) N‑COUNT □ …a convicted child abuser.
5 VERB You can say that someone is abused if extremely rude and insulting things are said to them. □ [be V -ed] He alleged that he was verbally abused by other soldiers. [Also V n]
6 VERB If you abuse something, you use it in a wrong way or for a bad purpose. □ [V n] He showed how the rich and powerful can abuse their position. ● abus|er N‑COUNT □ …the treatment of alcohol and drug abusers. SYNONYMS abuse NOUN 1
ill-treatment: lll-treatment of animals is still commonplace.
injury: She was awarded £3,500 for injury to her feelings.
maltreatment: 2,000 prisoners died as a result of torture and maltreatment. VERB 4
ill-treat: They were not ill-treated, but their time in captivity was miserable.
maltreat: He said that he was not tortured or maltreated during his detention.
abu|sive /əbjuː s I v/
1 ADJ Someone who is abusive behaves in a cruel and violent way towards other people. □ He became violent and abusive toward Ben's mother. □ One in eight women lives in an abusive relationship.
2 ADJ Abusive language is extremely rude and insulting.
abut /əbʌ t/ (abuts , abutting , abutted ) VERB When land or a building abuts something or abuts on something, it is next to it. [FORMAL ]
abuzz /əbʌ z/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If someone says that a place is abuzz with rumours or plans, they mean that everyone there is excited about them. [JOURNALISM ]
abys|mal /əb I zm ə l/ ADJ If you describe a situation or the condition of something as abysmal , you think that it is very bad or poor in quality. □ …our abysmal record at producing a scientifically trained workforce. □ The general standard of racing was abysmal. ● abys|mal|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV after v] □ The standard of education was abysmally low. □ As the chart shows, it has failed abysmally.
abyss /æb I s/ (abysses )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] An abyss is a very deep hole in the ground. [LITERARY ]
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If someone is on the edge or brink of an abyss , they are about to enter into a very frightening or threatening situation. [LITERARY ]
AC /e I siː / N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] AC is used to refer to an electric current that continually changes direction as it flows. AC is an abbreviation for 'alternating current'.
aca|cia /əke I ʃə/ (acacias or acacia ) N‑VAR An acacia or an acacia tree is a tree which grows in warm countries and which usually has small yellow or white flowers.
aca|deme /æ kədiːm/ N‑UNCOUNT The academic world of universities is sometimes referred to as academe . [FORMAL ]
aca|demia /æ kədiː miə/ N‑UNCOUNT Academia refers to all the academics in a particular country or region, the institutions they work in, and their work. □ …the importance of strong links between industry and academia.
aca|dem|ic ◆◇◇ /æ kəde m I k/ (academics )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Academic is used to describe things that relate to the work done in schools, colleges, and universities, especially work which involves studying and reasoning rather than practical or technical skills. □ Their academic standards are high. □ I was terrible at school and left with few academic qualifications. ● aca|dem|ical|ly /æ kəde m I kli/ ADV □ He is academically gifted.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Academic is used to describe things that relate to schools, colleges, and universities. □ …the start of the last academic year. □ I'd had enough of academic life.
3 ADJ Academic is used to describe work, or a school, college, or university, that places emphasis on studying and reasoning rather than on practical or technical skills. □ The author has settled for a more academic approach.
4 ADJ Someone who is academic is good at studying. □ The system is failing most disastrously among less academic children.
5 N‑COUNT An academic is a member of a university or college who teaches or does research.