Legal Definitions - abate

Definition: Abate means to eliminate or nullify something. It is often used in relation to getting rid of a nuisance. For example, if someone is making a lot of noise that is bothering their neighbors, the neighbors might ask the authorities to abate the noise.

Example: In California, one of the ways to deal with a public nuisance is to abate it. This means that the authorities can take steps to eliminate the nuisance. For instance, if a property owner is allowing their yard to become overgrown and it's attracting rats, the authorities might abate the problem by forcing the owner to clean up their yard.

Explanation: The examples illustrate how abate is used to eliminate a problem. In the first example, the authorities are asked to abate the noise, which means they will take steps to make the noise stop. In the second example, the authorities are asked to abate the overgrown yard, which means they will take steps to make the yard clean and safe again.