Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Application?

\Ap`pli*ca"tion\, n. [L. applicatio, fr. applicare: cf. F. application. See {Apply}.] 1. The act of applying or laying on, in a literal sense; as, the application of emollients to a diseased limb. 2. The thing applied. He invented a new application by which blood might be stanched. --Johnson. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. The capacity of being practically applied or used; relevancy; as, a rule of general application. 7. 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 might have been greater. --J. Jay. 8. The act of making request of soliciting; as, an application for an office; he made application to a court of chancery. 9. A request; a document containing a request; as, his application was placed on file.