| apply | 1. To lay or place; to put or adjust (one thing to another); with to; as, to apply the hand to the breast; to apply medicaments to a diseased part of the body. "He said, and the sword his throat applied." (Dryden) 2. To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case; to appropriate; to devote; as, to apply money to the payment of a debt. 3. To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relative; as, to apply the testimony to the case; to apply an epithet to a person. "Yet God at last To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied." (Milton) 4. To fix closely; to engage and employ diligently, or with attention; to attach; to incline. "Apply thine heart unto instruction." (Prov. Xxiii. 12) 5. To direct or address. "Sacred vows . . . Applied to grisly Pluto." (Pope) 6. To betake; to address; to refer; used reflexively. "I applied myself to him for help." (Johnson) 7. To busy; to keep at work; to ply. "She was skillful in applying his "humors."" (Sir P. Sidney) 8. To visit. "And he applied each place so fast." (Chapman) Applied chemistry. See Chemistry. Applied mathematics. See Mathematics. Origin: OF. Aplier, F. Appliquer, fr. L. Applicare to join, fix, or attach to; ad + plicare to fold, to twist together. See Applicant, Ply. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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