Use - English meaning

verb

Use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse.

Usage examples:

The judge abused his power by imposing the fines

noun

The improper use of something.

Usage examples:

Alcohol abuse

verb

Cruel or inhumane treatment

noun

A condition or circumstance that puts one in a favourable or superior position.

Usage examples:

Companies with a computerized database are at an advantage

verb

Put in a favourable or superior position.

Usage examples:

Are we simply caught in a spiral here that will be destructive of our interests while, obviously, s…

noun

A condition that helps you or gives you a greater chance of success

Usage examples:

[ c ] his long arms give him a big advantage over other boxers., [ u ] test scores show no advantag…

verb

Point or direct (a weapon or camera) at a target.

Usage examples:

Aim the camcorder at some suitable object

noun

A purpose or intention; a desired outcome.

Usage examples:

Our primary aim is to achieve financial discipline

abbreviation

Alternative investment market (a subsidiary market of the london stock exchange that allows small companies to be traded without the expense of a full market listing).

noun

A formal request to be considered for a position or to be allowed to do or have something, submitted to an authority, institution, or organization.

Usage examples:

An application for leave

noun

A particular use

Usage examples:

[ u ] a letter of application, [ c ] i’ve sent off applications for four different jobs.

noun

An official request for a job, a place on a course, etc., usually in writing

Usage examples:

An application for sth we received over 250 applications for the post., make/submit an application …

verb

Make a formal application or request.

Usage examples:

You need to apply to the local authority for a grant

verb

Help or benefit.

Usage examples:

No amount of struggle availed charles

noun

Use or benefit.

Usage examples:

He begged her to reconsider, but to no avail

noun

An advantage or profit gained from something.

Usage examples:

Enjoy the benefits of being a member

verb

Receive an advantage; profit.

Usage examples:

The areas would benefit from regeneration

noun

A helpful or good effect

Usage examples:

[ c ] it was a giveaway to the rich, he said, and not something that’s a benefit to most americans.…

verb

Give work to (someone) and pay them for it.

Usage examples:

The firm employs 150 people

noun

The state of being employed for wages or a salary.

Usage examples:

I started work in the employ of a grocer

verb

To pay someone to work or do a job for you

Usage examples:

The factory employs 87 workers., jacobs employs this phrase repeatedly.

noun

The state of having paid work.

Usage examples:

A fall in the numbers in full-time employment

noun

Activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness.

Usage examples:

Exercise improves your heart and lung power

verb

Use or apply (a faculty, right, or process).

Usage examples:

Control is exercised by the board

verb

Apply or bring to bear (a force, influence, or quality).

Usage examples:

The moon exerts a force on the earth

verb

Put to use

verb

To use power or the ability to make something happen

Usage examples:

To cut costs, health-insurance plans are exerting tighter control over paying for medical care., sh…

noun

The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work.

Usage examples:

The exploitation of migrant workers

noun

The act of using someone unfairly for your own advantage

Usage examples:

She favors legislation to curb the exploitation of child labor.

noun

The use or development of something for profit or progress in business

Usage examples:

The awards recognize the best new products or processes suitable for commercial exploitation., the …

verb

Obtain or secure (something wanted or desirable).

Usage examples:

We gained entry to the car in five seconds

noun

An increase in wealth or resources.

Usage examples:

The pursuit of personal gain

verb

Obtain

noun

(in soccer, rugby, hockey, and some other games) a pair of posts linked by a crossbar and typically with a net between, forming a space into or over which the ball has to be sent in order to score.

Usage examples:

Mr foxley said there were still some problems with organising the event including installing a set …

adjective

To be desired or approved of.

Usage examples:

It's good that he's back to his old self

noun

That which is morally right; righteousness.

Usage examples:

A mysterious balance of good and evil

adverb

Well.

Usage examples:

My mother could never cook this good

verb

Make it easier or possible for (someone) to do something by offering one's services or resources.

Usage examples:

They helped her with domestic chores

noun

The action of helping someone to do something.

Usage examples:

I asked for help from my neighbours

exclamation

Used as an appeal for urgent assistance.

Usage examples:

Help! i'm drowning!

verb

To put something into your service for a purpose

Usage examples:

Do you know how to use a computer?, we could use your help., she uses so many big words, it’s hard …

phrase

To use something that is available

Usage examples:

We might as well make use of the hotel's facilities., we must make use of every weapon we have in t…

noun

Cruel or violent treatment of a person or animal; mistreatment.

Usage examples:

16 per cent of children experience serious maltreatment at the hands of their parents

noun

The act of treating someone cruelly or violently

Usage examples:

They complained about the physical and psychological maltreatment of prisoners., the company is not…

verb

Handle or control (a tool, mechanism, information, etc.) in a skilful manner.

Usage examples:

He manipulated the dials of the set

verb

Influence or control shrewdly or deviously

verb

To influence or control someone to your advantage, often without that person knowing it

Usage examples:

Her success is partly due to her ability to manipulate the media., the wheelchair is designed to be…

noun

The action of manipulating something in a skilful manner.

Usage examples:

The format allows fast picture manipulation

noun

The action of influencing or controlling someone or something to your advantage, often without anyone knowing it

Usage examples:

[ u ] they have been accused of illegal manipulation of the stock market., [ u ] often a dislocated…

noun

The control of someone or something in order to get an advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly

Usage examples:

He believed that regulators should try to eliminate fraud and market manipulation., federal authori…

noun

A movement or series of moves requiring skill and care.

Usage examples:

Snowboarders performed daring manoeuvres on precipitous slopes

verb

Move skilfully or carefully.

Usage examples:

The lorry was unable to manoeuvre comfortably in the narrow street

noun

A planned action that is intended to get an advantage

Usage examples:

This manoeuvre has the effect of rewarding those shareholders who sell at the expense of those who …

verb

Move skilfully or carefully.

Usage examples:

The lorry was unable to manoeuvre comfortably in the narrow street

noun

A movement or series of moves requiring skill and care.

Usage examples:

Snowboarders performed daring manoeuvres on precipitous slopes

noun

A large-scale military exercise of troops, warships, and other forces.

Usage examples:

The russian vessel was on manoeuvres

noun

The action of mistreating or fact of being mistreated; ill-treatment.

Usage examples:

The alleged mistreatment of the animals that perform in those shows

noun

The act of treating a person or animal badly, cruelly, or unfairly

Usage examples:

She suffered years of mistreatment from her violent husband., the alleged mistreatment of prisoners

verb

Use (something) in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose.

Usage examples:

He was found guilty of misusing public funds

noun

The wrong or improper use of something.

Usage examples:

Drugs of such potency that their misuse can have dire consequences

verb

To use something in an unsuitable way or in a way that was not intended

Usage examples:

She’s been accused of misusing federal funds to pay for her son’s private school expenses., [ c ] t…

noun

A reason for doing something.

Usage examples:

Police were unable to establish a motive for his murder

adjective

Producing physical or mechanical motion.

Usage examples:

The charge of gas is the motive force for every piston stroke

noun

A reason for doing something

Usage examples:

Does he have a motive for lying about where he was?, judy moved to florida because she likes it the…

noun

A material thing that can be seen and touched.

Usage examples:

He was dragging a large object

verb

Say something to express one's opposition to or disagreement with something.

Usage examples:

Residents object to the volume of traffic

noun

A thing that can be seen, held, or touched, usually not a living thing

Usage examples:

Distant objects look blurry to me., the object of the game of chess is to checkmate your opponent.,…

verb

(of a person) control the functioning of (a machine, process, or system).

Usage examples:

The prime minister operates a system of divide and rule

verb

Perform as expected when applied

verb

To work or cause something to work, be in action, or have an effect

Usage examples:

[ t ] how do you operate the remote control unit?, [ i ] changes are being introduced to make the d…

noun

The action of functioning or the fact of being active or in effect.

Usage examples:

Restrictions on the operation of market forces

noun

A mathematical process, such as addition, in which one set of numbers is produced from another

Usage examples:

She underwent a six-hour open-heart operation., [ u ] several printing presses are in operation (= …

noun

The fact of operating or being active

Usage examples:

Come into/begin operation we expect the new procedure to come into operation early next year., be o…

noun

A thickness or layer of a folded or laminated material.

Usage examples:

Tiles that have a black pvc ply in the lamination

verb

Work steadily with (a tool).

Usage examples:

A tailor delicately plying his needle

noun

A layer of something such as wood or paper, or a thread that is wrapped with other threads to form yarn (= wool cord) or rope

Usage examples:

Two-ply facial tissue, new buses plied the city's bus routes this week., extreme-sports athletes pl…

noun

The tapered, sharp end of a tool, weapon, or other object.

Usage examples:

The point of his dagger

verb

A fielding position on the off side near the batsman.

verb

Perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to acquire, improve or maintain proficiency in it.

Usage examples:

I need to practise my french

verb

To work in an area such as law or medicine, etc. that involves long periods of training and high levels of skill

Usage examples:

Practise as sth she practised as a solicitor for 10 years before taking a career break., practise l…

noun

A financial gain, especially the difference between the amount earned and the amount spent in buying, operating, or producing something.

Usage examples:

Record pre-tax profits

verb

Obtain a financial advantage or benefit.

Usage examples:

The only people to profit from the episode were the lawyers

noun

Money that a business earns above what it costs to produce and sell goods and services

Usage examples:

[ u ] any profit made on the sale is taxable., [ c ] a lot of businesses are reaping huge profits.,…

noun

The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

Usage examples:

The purpose of the meeting is to appoint a trustee

verb

Have as one's intention or objective.

Usage examples:

God has allowed suffering, even purposed it

noun

A cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event.

Usage examples:

She asked him to return, but didn't give a reason

verb

Think, understand, and form judgements logically.

Usage examples:

Humans do not reason entirely from facts

noun

A faculty by which the body perceives an external stimulus; one of the faculties of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch.

Usage examples:

The bear has a keen sense of smell which enables it to hunt at dusk

verb

Perceive by a sense or senses.

Usage examples:

With the first frost, they could sense a change in the days

verb

The faculty through which the external world is apprehended

noun

The action of helping or doing work for someone.

Usage examples:

Millions are involved in voluntary service

verb

A system supplying a public need such as transport, communications, or utilities such as electricity and water.

Usage examples:

A regular bus service

noun

The help provided to a customer by someone who works in esp. a restaurant or store

Usage examples:

The service in this restaurant is terrible – i’ve been waiting fifteen minutes., [ u ] she was give…

noun

The action of using something or the fact of being used.

Usage examples:

A survey of water usage

noun

The way in which words are used by the people who speak and write a particular language, or an example of such use

Usage examples:

[ c ] we use african-american, which is the current preferred usage., the study tracks credit card …

noun

The process of using something

Usage examples:

The software allows marketers to track the usage patterns of each customer., the plan offers unlimi…

noun

The quality or fact of being useful.

Usage examples:

Faults that affect the book's usefulness

noun

The quality or state of being useful

Usage examples:

Some people think this system of education has outlived its usefulness (= is no longer useful).

noun

The state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial.

Usage examples:

He had a poor opinion of the utility of book learning

adjective

Useful, especially through being able to perform several functions.

Usage examples:

A utility truck

noun

Ability to satisfy a particular need; usefulness

Usage examples:

Its basic utility lies in being able to drive where other vehicles can’t go., a utility bill, after…

noun

The action of making practical and effective use of something.

Usage examples:

Steps to increase the utilization of resources

noun

The use of something

noun

The amount of something available, produced, etc. compared with the total amount that exists or that could be produced

Usage examples:

The number of working rigs in mediterranean waters was 92 out of a total fleet of 103, a utilizatio…

verb

Make practical and effective use of.

Usage examples:

Vitamin c helps your body utilize the iron present in your diet

Put into service

verb

To make use of something

Usage examples:

The library’s great collection allowed me to utilize many rare sources.

noun

The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.

Usage examples:

Your support is of great value

verb

Estimate the monetary worth of.

Usage examples:

His estate was valued at £45,000

noun

Importance, worth, or benefit

Usage examples:

They discussed the value of having cameras in the courtroom., the value of the thing (= its worth i…

verb

Hold and use (a weapon or tool).

Usage examples:

A masked raider wielding a handgun

verb

Handle effectively

verb

To have or use power, authority, or influence, or to hold and use a weapon

Usage examples:

Under the new city charter, the mayor wields most of the power.

noun

Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.

Usage examples:

He was tired after a day's work

verb

Be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a result; do work.

Usage examples:

She has been working so hard

combining form

Denoting things or parts made of a specified material or with specified tools.

Usage examples:

Silverwork

adjective

Equivalent in value to the sum or item specified.

Usage examples:

Jewellery worth £450 was taken

noun

The level at which someone or something deserves to be valued or rated.

Usage examples:

They had to listen to every piece of gossip and judge its worth

noun

The amount of money that something can be sold for

Usage examples:

The estimated worth of her jewels alone is about $30 million., $20 worth of gasoline, a sense of pe…