Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Apply \Ap*ply"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Applied}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Applying}.] [OF. aplier, F. appliquer, fr. L. applicare to
   join, fix, or attach to; ad + plicare to fold, to twist
   together. See {Applicant}, {Ply}.]
   1. To lay or place; to put or adjust (one thing to another);
      -- with to; as, to apply the hand to the breast; to apply
      medicaments to a diseased part of the body.

            He said, and the sword his throat applied. --Dryden.

   2. To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose,
      or in a particular case; to appropriate; to devote; as, to
      apply money to the payment of a debt.

   3. To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable,
      fitting, or relative; as, to apply the testimony to the
      case; to apply an epithet to a person.

            Yet God at last To Satan, first in sin, his doom
            applied.                              --Milton.

   4. To fix closely; to engage and employ diligently, or with
      attention; to attach; to incline.

            Apply thine heart unto instruction.   --Prov. xxiii.
                                                  12.

   5. To direct or address. [R.]

            Sacred vows . . . applied to grisly Pluto. --Pope.

   6. To betake; to address; to refer; -- used reflexively.

            I applied myself to him for help.     --Johnson.

   7. To busy; to keep at work; to ply. [Obs.]

            She was skillful in applying his ``humors.'' --Sir
                                                  P. Sidney.

   8. To visit. [Obs.]

            And he applied each place so fast.    --Chapman.

   {Applied chemistry}. See under {Chemistry}.

   {Applied mathematics}. See under {Mathematics}.

Source : WordNet®

applied
     adj 1: that are used; "an isotropic resonance shift...to lower
            applied fields"
     2: concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with
        fundamental principles; opposed to theoretical; "applied
        physics"; "applied psychology"; "technical problems in
        medicine, engineering, economics and other applied
        disciplines"- Sidney Hook [ant: {theoretical}]
     3: put into practice or put to use; "applied physics"

apply
     v 1: put into service; make work or employ (something) for a
          particular purpose or for its inherent or natural
          purpose; "use your head!"; "we only use Spanish at
          home"; "I can't make use of 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"
          [syn: {use}, {utilize}, {utilise}, {employ}]
     2: 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" [syn: {hold}, {go for}]
     3: ask (for something); "He applied for a leave of absence";
        "She applied for college"; "apply for a job"
     4: apply to a surface; "She applied paint to the back of the
        house"; "Put on make-up!" [syn: {put on}]
     5: be applicable to; as to an analysis; "This theory lends
        itself well to our new data" [syn: {lend oneself}] [ant: {defy}]
     6: give or convey physically; "She gave him First Aid"; "I gave
        him a punch in the nose" [syn: {give}]
     7: avail oneself to; "apply a principle"; "practice a
        religion"; "use care when going down the stairs"; "use
        your common sense"; "practice non-violent resistance"
        [syn: {practice}, {use}]
     8: ensure observance of laws and rules; "Apply the rules to
        everyone"; [syn: {enforce}, {implement}] [ant: {exempt}]
     9: refer (a word or name) to a person or thing; "He applied
        this racial slur to me!"
     10: apply oneself to; "Please apply yourself to your homework"
     [also: {applied}]

applied
     See {apply}