What does "application" mean?
Application: The thing applied. He invented a new application by which blood might be stanched. Johnson.
Additional senses
- 2.The act of applying as a means; the employment of means to accomplish an end; specific use. If a right course . . . be taken with children, there will not be much need of the application of the common rewards and punishments. Locke.
- 3.The act of directing or referring something to a particular case, to discover or illustrate agreement or disagreement, fitness, or correspondence; as, I make the remark, and leave you to make the application; the application of a theory.
- 4.Hence, in specific uses: (a) That part of a sermon or discourse in which the principles before laid down and illustrated are applied to practical uses; the "moral" of a fable. (b) The use of the principles of one science for the purpose of enlarging or perfecting another; as, the application of algebra to geometry.
- 5.The capacity of being practically applied or used; relevancy; as, a rule of general application.
- 6.The act of fixing the mind or closely applying one's self; assiduous effort; close attention; as, to injure the health by application to study. Had his application been equal to his talents, his progress night have been greater. J. Jay.
- 7.The act of making request of soliciting; as, an application for an office; he made application to a court of chancery.
- 8.A request; a document containing a request; as, his application was placed on file.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00