"applies" in the verb sense

1. use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ

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"

2. apply, hold, go for

be pertinent or relevant or applicable

"The same laws apply to you!"

"This theory holds for all irrational numbers"

"The same rules go for everyone"

3. apply

ask (for something

"He applied for a leave of absence"

"She applied for college"

"apply for a job"

4. put on, apply

apply to a surface

"She applied paint to the back of the house"

"Put on make-up!"

5. lend oneself, apply

be applicable to as to an analysis

"This theory lends itself well to our new data"

6. give, apply

give or convey physically

"She gave him First Aid"

"I gave him a punch in the nose"

7. practice, apply, use

avail oneself to

"apply a principle"

"practice a religion"

"use care when going down the stairs"

"use your common sense"

"practice non-violent resistance"

8. enforce, implement, apply

ensure observance of laws and rules

"Apply the rules to everyone"

9. apply

refer (a word or name) to a person or thing

"He applied this racial slur to me!"

10. apply

apply oneself to

"Please apply yourself to your homework"

Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)

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