'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
Engage or hire for work; "They hired two new secretaries in the department"; "How many people has she employed?" [syn: hire, engage, employ] [ant: can, dismiss, displace, fire, force out, give notice, give the axe, give the sack, sack, send away, terminate]

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