apply

English Online Dictionary. What means apply‎? What does apply mean?

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English aplien, applien, from Old French applier, (French appliquer), from Latin applicō (“join, fix, or attach to”); from ad + plicō (“fold, twist together”). See applicant, ply.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈplaɪ/
  • (US, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): [əˈplaɪ]
  • (Standard Southern British) IPA^(key): [əˈplɑj]
  • (Canada) IPA^(key): [əˈplaɪ]
    • (dialectal) IPA^(key): [əˈpləj]
  • (General Australian) IPA^(key): [əˈplɑɪ]
• Rhymes: -aɪ
• Hyphenation: ap‧ply

Verb

apply (third-person singular simple present applies, present participle applying, simple past and past participle applied)

1. (transitive) To lay or place; to put (one thing to another)
2. (transitive) To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case

   Synonyms: appropriate, devote, use

3. (transitive) To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relevant.
4. (transitive) To put closely; to join; to engage and employ diligently or with attention.

   Synonyms: attach, incline
5. (reflexive) To work diligently and attentively.

6. (transitive, usually reflexive) To address oneself; to refer.
7. (intransitive) To submit oneself as a candidate (with the adposition "to" or "at" designating the recipient of the submission, and the adposition "for" designating the position).
8. (intransitive) To pertain or be relevant.

9. (obsolete) To busy; to keep at work; to ply.
10. (obsolete) To visit.

Derived terms

Descendants

• → Cebuano: aplay

Translations

Etymology 2

From apple +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈæp(ə)li/

Adjective

apply (comparative more apply, superlative most apply)

2. Alternative spelling of appley

References

• “apply”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• lappy