physical, sexual, or emotional ill-treatment or neglect of a child, esp by those responsible for its welfare
See also nonaccidental injury
child abuse in American English
noun
mistreatment of a child, esp. by a parent or guardian, including neglect, beating, and sexual molestation
Word origin
[1970–75]This word is first recorded in the period 1970–75. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Heimlich maneuver, good old boy, postmodernism, salsa, urban legend
In other languages
child abuse
British English: child abuse /tʃaɪld əˈbjuːs / NOUN
Child abuse is physical, sexual, or emotional ill-treatment or neglect of a child, especially by those responsible for his or her welfare.