employ
[ em-ploi ]
/ ɛmˈplɔɪ /
verb (used with object)
to hire or engage the services of (a person or persons); provide employment for; have or keep in one's service: This factory employs thousands of people.
to keep busy or at work; engage the attentions of: He employs himself by reading after work.
to make use of (an instrument, means, etc.); use; apply: to employ a hammer to drive a nail.
to occupy or devote (time, energies, etc.): I employ my spare time in reading. I employ all my energies in writing.
noun
employment; service: to be in someone's employ.
Origin of employ
1425–75; late Middle English
employen < Anglo-French, Middle French
emploier ≪ Latin
implicāre to enfold (Late Latin: to engage); see
implicate
OTHER WORDS FROM employ
Words nearby employ
Example sentences from the Web for employed
British Dictionary definitions for employed
employ
/ (ɪmˈplɔɪ) /
verb (tr)
to engage or make use of the services of (a person) in return for money; hire
to provide work or occupation for; keep busy; occupy
collecting stamps employs a lot of his time
to use as a means
to employ secret measures to get one's ends
noun
the state of being employed (esp in the phrase in someone's employ)
Derived forms of employ
employable, adjective employability, nounWord Origin for employ
C15: from Old French
emploier, from Latin
implicāre to entangle, engage, from
plicāre to fold