apply

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To bring into nearness or contact with something; put on, upon, or to: applied glue sparingly to the paper.
2. v. To put to or adapt for a special use: applies all her money to her mortgage.
3. v. To put into action: applied the brakes.
4. v. To devote (oneself or one's efforts) to something: applied myself to my studies.
5. v. To be pertinent or relevant: a rule that applies to everyone.
6. v. To request or seek assistance, employment, or admission: applied for unemployment benefits; will apply to college next year. See Synonyms at resort.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To lay on; bring into physical proximity or contact: as, to apply the hand to the breast; to apply medicaments to a diseased part of the body; to apply a match to powder.
2. To bring into contact with particulars or with a particular case, as a principle, law, or rule; bring to bear upon; put into practical operation.
3. To use or employ for a particular case, or devote to a particular purpose: as, to apply a sum of money to the payment of a debt.
4. To connect or associate with, or refer to, some person or thing as applicable or pertinent; use as suitable or relative to some person or thing: as, to apply the testimony to the case.
5. . To attribute; refer; ascribe.
6. To give with earnestness or assiduity; employ with attention; devote: as, “apply thine heart unto instruction,” Prov. xxiii. 12.
7. . To address or direct.
8. . To be busy about; devote one's self with diligent vigor to; ply (which see).
9. . To bend (the mind); reflexively, to comply; conform; be subservient to.
10. . To visit.
11. Synonyms To place (on). To appropriate (to). To turn, bend, direct. Addict, Devote, Apply. See addict.
12. . To be in close contiguity.
13. To have application; be applicable; have some connection, agreement, analogy, or reference: as, this argument applies well to the case; the remarks were not meant to apply to you.
14. To make application or request; ask; have recourse with a view to gain something: as, to apply for an office, information, etc.
15. To give attention; turn the mind.
16. In astrology, of a heavenly body, to approach to the conjunction or aspect of another.

Wiktionary

1. adj. alternative spelling of appley.
2. v. transitive 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.
3. v. transitive 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.
4. v. transitive 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.
5. v. transitive To fix closely; to engage and employ diligently, or with attention; to attach; to incline.
6. v. transitive To betake; to address; to refer;—used reflexively.
7. v. intransitive To submit oneself as a candidate for.
8. v. intransitive To pertain or be relevant to a specified individual or group.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To lay or place; to put or adjust (one thing to another); -- with to
2. v. To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case; to appropriate; to devote.
3. v. To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relative
4. v. To fix closely; to engage and employ diligently, or with attention; to attach; to incline.
5. v. rare To direct or address.
6. v. To betake; to address; to refer; -- used reflexively.
7. v. obsolete To busy; to keep at work; to ply.
8. v. obsolete To visit.
9. v. To suit; to agree; to have some connection, agreement, or analogy.
10. v. To make request; to have recourse with a view to gain something; to make application. (to); to solicit.
11. v. rare To ply; to move.
12. v. To apply or address one's self; to give application; to attend closely (to).

WordNet 3.0

1. v. be pertinent or relevant or applicable
2. v. avail oneself to
3. v. put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
4. v. give or convey physically
5. v. be applicable to; as to an analysis
6. v. apply oneself to
7. v. refer (a word or name) to a person or thing
8. v. ensure observance of laws and rules
9. v. apply to a surface
10. v. ask (for something)