Apply - Definition

v 1: put into service; make work or employ for a particular
purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose; "use your
head!"; "we only use Spanish at home"; "I can't use this
tool"; "Apply a magnetic field here"; "This thinking was
applied to many projects"; "How do you utilize this tool?";
"I apply this rule to get good results"; "use the plastic
bags to store the food"; "He doesn't know how to use a
computer" [syn: use, utilize, utilise, apply,
employ]
2: be pertinent or relevant or applicable; "The same laws apply
to you!"; "This theory holds for all irrational numbers";
"The same rules go for everyone" [syn: apply, hold, go
for]
3: ask (for something); "He applied for a leave of absence";
"She applied for college"; "apply for a job"
4: apply to a surface; "She applied paint to the back of the
house"; "Put on make-up!" [syn: put on, apply]
5: be applicable to; as to an analysis; "This theory lends
itself well to our new data" [syn: lend oneself, apply]
[ant: defy, refuse, resist]
6: give or convey physically; "She gave him First Aid"; "I gave
him a punch in the nose" [syn: give, apply]
7: avail oneself to; "apply a principle"; "practice a religion";
"use care when going down the stairs"; "use your common
sense"; "practice non-violent resistance" [syn: practice,
apply, use]
8: ensure observance of laws and rules; "Apply the rules to
everyone"; [syn: enforce, implement, apply] [ant:
exempt, free, relieve]
9: refer (a word or name) to a person or thing; "He applied this
racial slur to me!"
10: apply oneself to; "Please apply yourself to your homework"