noun

1. Archaic the regulation within a community of morals, safety, sanitation, etc.; public order; law enforcement
2. the governmental department (of a city, state, etc.) organized for keeping order, enforcing the law, and preventing, detecting, and prosecuting crimes
3. 1. a governmental force, or body of persons, established and maintained for keeping order, etc.
   2. a private organization like this security police at a college
   3. the members of any such force
   4. Informal those who act as self-appointed guardians of morality, propriety, style, etc.: usually somewhat disparaging the fashion police, the language police
4. ☆ U.S. Army
   1. the work or duty of keeping a camp, post, etc. clean and orderly
   2. the soldiers charged with such duty kitchen police

Etymology: Fr < LL politia, administration of the commonwealth (in L, the state) < Gr politeia, the state, citizenship < politēs, citizen < polis, city < IE *pel-, fortress (> Sans pūr, town), orig., filled wall, special use of base *pel-, to flow, fill > full

transitive verb policed -·liced′, policing -·lic′·ing

1. to control, protect, or keep orderly with or as police or a similar force to police the streets
2. ☆ to make or keep (a military camp, post, etc.) clean and orderly: often with up