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exercise definition

ex·er·cise (ek′sər sīz′)

noun

  1. active use or operation; employment the exercise of an option
  2. performance (of duties, functions, etc.)
  3. activity for the purpose of training or developing the body or mind; systematic practice; esp., bodily exertion for the sake of health
  4. a regular series of specific movements designed to strengthen or develop some part of the body or some faculty finger exercises for the piano
  5. a problem or group of written examples, passages, etc. to be studied and worked out for developing technical skill, as in mathematics, grammar, etc.
  6. ☆ a set program of formal ceremonies, speeches, etc. graduation exercises

Etymology: ME & OFr exercice < L exercitium < pp. of exercere, to drive out (farm animals to work), hence drill, exercise < ex-, out + arcere, to enclose < IE base *areq-, to protect, enclose > Gr arkein

transitive verb exercised -·cised′, exercising -·cis′·ing

  1. to put into action; use; employ to exercise self-control
  2. to carry out (duties, etc.); perform; fulfill
  3. Now Rare to use habitually; practice; train: used reflexively or in the passive she was exercised in virtue
  4. to put (the body, a muscle, the mind, a skill, etc.) into use so as to develop or train
  5. to drill (troops)
  6. to engage the attention and energy of, esp. so as to worry, perplex, or harass: used esp. in the passive greatly exercised about the decision
  7. to exert or have (influence, control, authority, etc.)

intransitive verb

to take exercise; do exercises

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business exercise definition - business

finance exercise definition - finance

medical exercise definition - medical

exercise Synonyms

exercise

n.

  1. Action, undertaken for training

    practice, exertion, drill, activity, workout, training, gymnastics, sports, jogging, running, walking, calisthenics, aerobics, isometrics, yoga, warmup, conditioning, bodybuilding, weight lifting, constitutional, daily dozen*.

  2. The means by which training is promoted

    performance, act, action, activity, occupation, operation, study, theme, lesson, task, drill, test, examination.

  3. Use

    application, employment, operation; see use 1. See syn. study at practice.


exercise

v.

  1. To move the body

    train, work out, stretch, bend, pull, hike, jog, run, walk, promote muscle tone, labor, strain, move briskly, exert, discipline, drill, execute, do exercises, perform exercises, practice, warm up, limber up, loosen up, maneuver, lift weights, get in trim*, pump iron*, take a constitutional*, do one's daily dozen*; see also train 3.

  2. To use

    employ, practice, exert, apply, operate, execute, sharpen, handle, utilize, devote, put in practice; see also use 1.

  3. To train

    drill, discipline, give training to; see teach 2, train 3. See syn. study at practice.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

exercise Usage Examples

Object

  • discretion: The function of the Home Secretary was to exercise the administrative discretion which had been given to him by the statutes.

Converse of object

  • undertake: Exercises Often during the early part of the program many modules will require students to undertake exercises directly relevant to the subjects being covered.

Adjective modifier

  • aerobic: The effect of aerobic exercise and T'ai Chi on blood pressure in older people: results of a randomized trial.

Modifies a noun

  • physiologist: But if you wanted to learn how to fight would you rather learn from Bruce Lee or an exercise physiologist?

Noun used with modifier

  • consultation: The code replaces the guide How to conduct a written consultation exercise.

Preposition: in

  • reasoning: Sudoku is recommended as an exercise in logical reasoning.

Preposition: of

  • discretion: The third criterion clearly relates to the exercise of the discretion.
exercise usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

exercise quotes

Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel: they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, preciselyas men would suffer†it is thoughtless to condem them, or laugh at them, if they seek to domorethancustomhas pronounced necessary for their sex.

-Bronte«  , Charlotte

Hethat inhisstudieswhollyapplieshimselftolabourand exercise, and neglects meditation, loses his time, and he that only applies himself to meditation, and neglects labour and exercise, only wanders and loses himself.

-Confucius or K'ung Fu-tse,'The MasterK'ung'

Squashöthat's not exercise, it's flagellation.

-Coward, Sir Noe«  l Peirce

exercise quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"exercise." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/exercise>

APA Style

exercise. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/exercise

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