| use | | |
| n. (act) | 1. employment, exercise, usage, use, utilisation, utilization | the act of using.; "he warned against the use of narcotic drugs"; "skilled in the utilization of computers" |
| ~ activity | any specific behavior.; "they avoided all recreational activity" |
| ~ practice | the exercise of a profession.; "the practice of the law"; "I took over his practice when he retired" |
| ~ play | utilization or exercise.; "the play of the imagination" |
| ~ misuse, abuse | improper or excessive use.; "alcohol abuse"; "the abuse of public funds" |
| ~ exploitation, development | the act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful.; "the development of Alaskan resources"; "the exploitation of copper deposits" |
| ~ recycling | the act of processing used or abandoned materials for use in creating new products. |
| ~ application, practical application | the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose.; "he advocated the application of statistics to the problem"; "a novel application of electronics to medical diagnosis" |
| n. (attribute) | 2. function, purpose, role, use | what something is used for.; "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it?" |
| ~ usefulness, utility | the quality of being of practical use. |
| ~ raison d'etre | the purpose that justifies a thing's existence. |
| n. (attribute) | 3. use | a particular service.; "he put his knowledge to good use"; "patrons have their uses" |
| ~ usefulness, utility | the quality of being of practical use. |
| n. (process) | 4. consumption, economic consumption, usance, use, use of goods and services | (economics) the utilization of economic goods to satisfy needs or in manufacturing.; "the consumption of energy has increased steadily" |
| ~ economic science, economics, political economy | the branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management. |
| ~ conspicuous consumption | buying expensive services and products in order to flaunt your wealth. |
| ~ demand | the ability and desire to purchase goods and services.; "the automobile reduced the demand for buggywhips"; "the demand exceeded the supply" |
| n. (act) | 5. habit, use | (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition.; "owls have nocturnal habits"; "she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair"; "long use had hardened him to it" |
| ~ custom, usage, usance | accepted or habitual practice. |
| ~ ritual | stereotyped behavior. |
| ~ second nature | acquired behavior that is practiced so long it seems innate. |
| ~ psychological science, psychology | the science of mental life. |
| ~ cleanliness | the habit of keeping free of superficial imperfections. |
| n. (act) | 6. manipulation, use | exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage.; "his manipulation of his friends was scandalous" |
| ~ influence | causing something without any direct or apparent effort. |
| ~ mind game | deliberate actions of calculated psychological manipulation intended to intimidate or confuse (usually for competitive advantage).; "football players try to play mind games with the opposition"; "the jeweler's mind game is to convince lovers that the size of a gemstone reflects the depth of their feelings" |
| n. (attribute) | 7. enjoyment, use | (law) the exercise of the legal right to enjoy the benefits of owning property.; "we were given the use of his boat" |
| ~ legal right | a right based in law. |
| ~ fair use | the conditions under which you can use material that is copyrighted by someone else without paying royalties. |
| ~ fruition | enjoyment derived from use or possession. |
| ~ law, jurisprudence | the collection of rules imposed by authority.; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" |
| v. (consumption) | 8. apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize | 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" |
| ~ dedicate, devote, commit, consecrate, give | give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause.; "She committed herself to the work of God"; "give one's talents to a good cause"; "consecrate your life to the church" |
| ~ play | employ in a game or in a specific position.; "They played him on first base" |
| ~ play | use or move.; "I had to play my queen" |
| ~ pull out all the stops | use all resources available.; "The organizers pulled out all the stops for the centennial meeting" |
| ~ put, assign | attribute or give.; "She put too much emphasis on her the last statement"; "He put all his efforts into this job"; "The teacher put an interesting twist to the interpretation of the story" |
| ~ ply | use diligently.; "ply your wits!" |
| ~ address | address or apply oneself to something, direct one's efforts towards something, such as a question. |
| ~ waste | use inefficiently or inappropriately.; "waste heat"; "waste a joke on an unappreciative audience" |
| ~ misapply, misuse | apply to a wrong thing or person; apply badly or incorrectly.; "The words are misapplied in this context"; "You are misapplying the name of this religious group" |
| ~ avail | use to one's advantage.; "He availed himself of the available resources" |
| ~ overuse, overdrive | make use of too often or too extensively. |
| ~ cannibalise, cannibalize | use parts of something to repair something else. |
| ~ reprocess, reuse, recycle | use again after processing.; "We must recycle the cardboard boxes" |
| ~ exploit, work | use or manipulate to one's advantage.; "He exploit the new taxation system"; "She knows how to work the system"; "he works his parents for sympathy" |
| ~ exploit, tap | draw from; make good use of.; "we must exploit the resources we are given wisely" |
| ~ strain, extend | use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity.; "He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro"; "Don't strain your mind too much" |
| ~ exercise, exert | put to use.; "exert one's power or influence" |
| ~ enjoy | have benefit from.; "enjoy privileges" |
| ~ take | travel or go by means of a certain kind of transportation, or a certain route.; "He takes the bus to work"; "She takes Route 1 to Newark" |
| ~ share | use jointly or in common. |
| ~ put to work, work | cause to work.; "he is working his servants hard" |
| ~ implement | apply in a manner consistent with its purpose or design.; "implement a procedure" |
| ~ practice, use, apply | avail oneself to.; "apply a principle"; "practice a religion"; "use care when going down the stairs"; "use your common sense"; "practice non-violent resistance" |
| ~ resort, recur, fall back | have recourse to.; "The government resorted to rationing meat" |
| ~ go for, apply, hold | 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" |
| v. (consumption) | 9. habituate, use | take or consume (regularly or habitually).; "She uses drugs rarely" |
| ~ ingest, consume, have, take in, take | serve oneself to, or consume regularly.; "Have another bowl of chicken soup!"; "I don't take sugar in my coffee" |
| ~ tope, drink | drink excessive amounts of alcohol; be an alcoholic.; "The husband drinks and beats his wife" |
| ~ board | lodge and take meals (at). |
| v. (consumption) | 10. expend, use | use up, consume fully.; "The legislature expended its time on school questions" |
| ~ abuse, misuse, pervert | change the inherent purpose or function of something.; "Don't abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers" |
| ~ abuse | use wrongly or improperly or excessively.; "Her husband often abuses alcohol"; "while she was pregnant, she abused drugs" |
| ~ deplete, use up, wipe out, eat up, exhaust, run through, consume, eat | use up (resources or materials).; "this car consumes a lot of gas"; "We exhausted our savings"; "They run through 20 bottles of wine a week" |
| ~ spare | use frugally or carefully. |
| ~ take, use up, occupy | require (time or space).; "It took three hours to get to work this morning"; "This event occupied a very short time" |
| ~ squander, waste, blow | spend thoughtlessly; throw away.; "He wasted his inheritance on his insincere friends"; "You squandered the opportunity to get and advanced degree" |
| v. (social) | 11. use | seek or achieve an end by using to one's advantage.; "She uses her influential friends to get jobs"; "The president's wife used her good connections" |
| ~ exploit, work | use or manipulate to one's advantage.; "He exploit the new taxation system"; "She knows how to work the system"; "he works his parents for sympathy" |
| ~ take advantage, trespass | make excessive use of.; "You are taking advantage of my good will!"; "She is trespassing upon my privacy" |
| v. (social) | 12. apply, practice, 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" |
| ~ apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize | 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" |
| ~ follow | adhere to or practice.; "These people still follow the laws of their ancient religion" |
| v. (social) | 13. use | habitually do something (use only in the past tense).; "She used to call her mother every week but now she calls only occasionally"; "I used to get sick when I ate in that dining hall"; "They used to vacation in the Bahamas" |
| ~ act, move | perform an action, or work out or perform (an action).; "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel" |
| serve | | |
| n. (act) | 1. serve, service | (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play.; "his powerful serves won the game" |
| ~ squash rackets, squash racquets, squash | a game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets. |
| ~ badminton | a game played on a court with light long-handled rackets used to volley a shuttlecock over a net. |
| ~ lawn tennis, tennis | a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court. |
| ~ tennis shot, tennis stroke | the act of hitting a tennis ball with a tennis racket. |
| ~ ace | a serve that the receiver is unable to reach. |
| ~ fault | (sports) a serve that is illegal (e.g., that lands outside the prescribed area).; "he served too many double faults" |
| ~ net ball, let | a serve that strikes the net before falling into the receiver's court; the ball must be served again. |
| v. (stative) | 2. function, serve | serve a purpose, role, or function.; "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk" |
| ~ service, serve | be used by; as of a utility.; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses" |
| ~ suffice, answer, do, serve | be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity.; "A few words would answer"; "This car suits my purpose well"; "Will $100 do?"; "A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school"; "Nothing else will serve" |
| ~ prelude | serve as a prelude or opening to. |
| ~ act as | function as or act like.; "This heap of stones will act as a barrier" |
| v. (competition) | 3. serve | do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function.; "He served as head of the department for three years"; "She served in Congress for two terms" |
| ~ sit | serve in a specific professional capacity.; "the priest sat for confession"; "she sat on the jury" |
| ~ staff | serve on the staff of.; "The two men staff the reception desk" |
| ~ act | discharge one's duties.; "She acts as the chair"; "In what capacity are you acting?" |
| ~ rotate | perform a job or duty on a rotating basis.; "Interns have to rotate for a few months" |
| ~ officiate, function | perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function.; "His wife officiated as his private secretary" |
| ~ caddie, caddy | act as a caddie and carry clubs for a player. |
| ~ do work, work | be employed.; "Is your husband working again?"; "My wife never worked"; "Do you want to work after the age of 60?"; "She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money"; "She works as a waitress to put herself through college" |
| ~ serve | do military service.; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted" |
| ~ represent | be a delegate or spokesperson for; represent somebody's interest or be a proxy or substitute for, as of politicians and office holders representing their constituents, or of a tenant representing other tenants in a housing dispute.; "I represent the silent majority" |
| v. (stative) | 4. serve | contribute or conduce to.; "The scandal served to increase his popularity" |
| ~ effect, effectuate, set up | produce.; "The scientists set up a shock wave" |
| ~ serve well, serve | promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to.; "Art serves commerce"; "Their interests are served"; "The lake serves recreation"; "The President's wisdom has served the country well" |
| ~ facilitate, help | be of use.; "This will help to prevent accidents" |
| v. (social) | 5. serve, service | be used by; as of a utility.; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses" |
| ~ function, operate, work, run, go | perform as expected when applied.; "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"; "Does this old car still run well?"; "This old radio doesn't work anymore" |
| ~ serve, function | serve a purpose, role, or function.; "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk" |
| v. (consumption) | 6. help, serve | help to some food; help with food or drink.; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself" |
| ~ dish, dish up, serve up, dish out, serve | provide (usually but not necessarily food).; "We serve meals for the homeless"; "She dished out the soup at 8 P.M."; "The entertainers served up a lively show" |
| ~ cater, ply, provide, supply | give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance.; "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests" |
| v. (consumption) | 7. dish, dish out, dish up, serve, serve up | provide (usually but not necessarily food).; "We serve meals for the homeless"; "She dished out the soup at 8 P.M."; "The entertainers served up a lively show" |
| ~ plank | cook and serve on a plank.; "Planked vegetable"; "Planked shad" |
| ~ help, serve | help to some food; help with food or drink.; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself" |
| ~ cater, ply, provide, supply | give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance.; "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests" |
| v. (social) | 8. serve | devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas.; "She served the art of music"; "He served the church"; "serve the country" |
| ~ work | exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity.; "I will work hard to improve my grades"; "she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor" |
| ~ wait on, attend to, assist, attend, serve | work for or be a servant to.; "May I serve you?"; "She attends the old lady in the wheelchair"; "Can you wait on our table, please?"; "Is a salesperson assisting you?"; "The minister served the King for many years" |
| v. (stative) | 9. serve, serve well | promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to.; "Art serves commerce"; "Their interests are served"; "The lake serves recreation"; "The President's wisdom has served the country well" |
| ~ nurture, foster | help develop, help grow.; "nurture his talents" |
| ~ serve | contribute or conduce to.; "The scandal served to increase his popularity" |
| v. (stative) | 10. do, serve | spend time in prison or in a labor camp.; "He did six years for embezzlement" |
| ~ admit | serve as a means of entrance.; "This ticket will admit one adult to the show" |
| ~ spend, pass | pass time in a specific way.; "how are you spending your summer vacation?" |
| v. (social) | 11. assist, attend, attend to, serve, wait on | work for or be a servant to.; "May I serve you?"; "She attends the old lady in the wheelchair"; "Can you wait on our table, please?"; "Is a salesperson assisting you?"; "The minister served the King for many years" |
| ~ valet | serve as a personal attendant to. |
| ~ aid, assist, help | give help or assistance; be of service.; "Everyone helped out during the earthquake"; "Can you help me carry this table?"; "She never helps around the house" |
| ~ fag | act as a servant for older boys, in British public schools. |
| ~ serve | devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas.; "She served the art of music"; "He served the church"; "serve the country" |
| v. (contact) | 12. process, serve, swear out | deliver a warrant or summons to someone.; "He was processed by the sheriff" |
| ~ subpoena | serve or summon with a subpoena.; "The witness and her records were subpoenaed" |
| ~ wash, rinse | clean with some chemical process. |
| ~ deliver | bring to a destination, make a delivery.; "our local super market delivers" |
| v. (stative) | 13. answer, do, serve, suffice | be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity.; "A few words would answer"; "This car suits my purpose well"; "Will $100 do?"; "A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school"; "Nothing else will serve" |
| ~ bridge over, tide over, keep going | suffice for a period between two points.; "This money will keep us going for another year" |
| ~ go a long way | suffice or be adequate for a while or to a certain extent. |
| ~ serve, function | serve a purpose, role, or function.; "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk" |
| ~ live up to, satisfy, fulfill, fulfil | meet the requirements or expectations of. |
| ~ measure up, qualify | prove capable or fit; meet requirements. |
| ~ go around | be sufficient.; "There's not enough to go around" |
| v. (social) | 14. serve | do military service.; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted" |
| ~ serve | do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function.; "He served as head of the department for three years"; "She served in Congress for two terms" |
| ~ do work, work | be employed.; "Is your husband working again?"; "My wife never worked"; "Do you want to work after the age of 60?"; "She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money"; "She works as a waitress to put herself through college" |
| v. (contact) | 15. serve, service | mate with.; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes" |
| ~ stand | be available for stud services.; "male domestic animals such as stallions serve selected females" |
| ~ copulate, mate, couple, pair | engage in sexual intercourse.; "Birds mate in the Spring" |
| v. (competition) | 16. serve | put the ball into play.; "It was Agassi's turn to serve" |
| ~ court game | an athletic game played on a court. |
| ~ move, go | have a turn; make one's move in a game.; "Can I go now?" |
| ~ ace | serve an ace against (someone). |
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