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.
Nearby words
Origin of employ
1425–75; late Middle English employen < Anglo-French, Middle French emploier ≪ Latin implicāre to enfold (Late Latin: to engage); see implicate
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples 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; occupycollecting stamps employs a lot of his time
to use as a meansto employ secret measures to get one's ends
noun
the state of being employed (esp in the phrase in someone's employ)
Derived Forms
employable, adjectiveemployability, nounWord Origin for employ
C15: from Old French emploier, from Latin implicāre to entangle, engage, from plicāre to fold
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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