'Employ' definitions:
Definition of 'employ'
From: WordNet
noun
The state of being employed or having a job; "they are looking for employment"; "he was in the employ of the city" [syn: employment, employ] [ant: unemployment]
verb
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]
verb
Definition of 'Employ'
From: GCIDE
- Employ \Em*ploy"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Employed; p. pr. & vb. n. Employing.] [F. employer, fr. L. implicare to fold into, infold, involve, implicate, engage; in + plicare to fold. See Ply, and cf. Imply, Implicate.]
- 1. To inclose; to infold. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To use; to have in service; to cause to be engaged in doing something; -- often followed by in, about, on, or upon, and sometimes by to; as: (a) To make use of, as an instrument, a means, a material, etc., for a specific purpose; to apply; as, to employ the pen in writing, bricks in building, words and phrases in speaking; to employ the mind; to employ one's energies. [1913 Webster]
- This is a day in which the thoughts . . . ought to be employed on serious subjects. --Addison. (b) To occupy; as, to employ time in study. (c) To have or keep at work; to give employment or occupation to; to intrust with some duty or behest; as, to employ a hundred workmen; to employ an envoy. [1913 Webster]
- Jonathan . . . and Jahaziah . . . were employed about this matter. --Ezra x. 15. [1913 Webster]
- Thy vineyard must employ the sturdy steer To turn the glebe. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- To employ one's self, to apply or devote one's time and attention; to busy one's self.
- Syn: To use; busy; apply; exercise; occupy; engross; engage. See Use. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Employ'
From: GCIDE
- Employ \Em*ploy"\, n. [Cf. F. emploi.] That which engages or occupies a person; fixed or regular service or business; employment. [1913 Webster]
- The whole employ of body and of mind. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- In one's employ, in one's service. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'employ'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- active use,
- activities,
- activity,
- add,
- affair,
- affairs,
- appliance,
- application,
- apply,
- attend to business,
- attendance,
- avail,
- bag,
- bespeak,
- bestow,
- book,
- brief,
- business,
- busy,
- carry on,
- commerce,
- commission,
- concern,
- concernment,
- conduct,
- consecrate to,
- consume,
- consumption,
- contract for,
- dedicate to,
- devote,
- do,
- do with,
- employment,
- engage,
- engage in,
- engross,
- enlist,
- enterprise,
- exercise,
- exert,
- exertion,
- expend,
- exploit,
- follow,
- function,
- give over to,
- give to,
- go in for,
- good use,
- handle,
- hard usage,
- hard use,
- hire,
- ill use,
- interest,
- involve,
- labor,
- lookout,
- make use of,
- manage,
- manipulate,
- matter,
- mind the store,
- ministration,
- ministry,
- misuse,
- monopolize,
- obtain,
- occupation,
- occupy,
- operate,
- pass,
- pass the time,
- peonage,
- play,
- ply,
- practice,
- preengage,
- procure,
- prosecute,
- pursue,
- put forth,
- put in,
- put on,
- put out,
- recruit,
- reserve,
- retain,
- rough usage,
- secure,
- serfdom,
- service,
- servitium,
- servitorship,
- servitude,
- sign,
- sign on,
- sign up,
- sign up for,
- slavery,
- specialize in,
- spend,
- spend the time,
- tackle,
- take into employment,
- take on,
- take to,
- take up,
- tendance,
- thing,
- undertake,
- undertaking,
- usage,
- use,
- use up,
- using up,
- utilize,
- wage,
- while,
- while away,
- wield,
- wile,
- work,
- work at,
- wrong use