apply. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

apply

SYLLABICATION:	ap·ply
PRONUNCIATION:	-pl
VERB:	Inflected forms: ap·plied, ap·ply·ing, ap·plies
TRANSITIVE VERB:	1. To bring into nearness or contact with something; put on, upon, or to: applied glue sparingly to the paper. 2. To put to or adapt for a special use: applies all her money to her mortgage. 3. To put into action: applied the brakes. 4. To devote (oneself or one's efforts) to something: applied myself to my studies.
INTRANSITIVE VERB:	1. To be pertinent or relevant: a rule that applies to everyone. 2. To request or seek assistance, employment, or admission: applied for unemployment benefits; will apply to college next year. See synonyms at resort.
ETYMOLOGY:	Middle English applien, from Old French aplier, from Latin applicre, to affix : ad-, ad- + plicre, to fold together; see plek- in Appendix I.
OTHER FORMS:	ap·plia·ble —ADJECTIVE ap·plier —NOUN


The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.