noun
- bodily or mental exertion, especially for the sake of training or improvement of health: Walking is good exercise.
- something done or performed as a means of practice or training: exercises for the piano.
- a putting into action, use, operation, or effect: the exercise of caution.
- a written composition, musical piece, or artistic work executed for practice or to illustrate a particular aspect of technique.
- Often exercises. a traditional ceremony: graduation exercises.
- a religious observance or service.
verb (used with object), ex·er·cised, ex·er·cis·ing.
- to put through exercises, or forms of practice or exertion, designed to train, develop, condition, or the like: to exercise a horse.
- to put (faculties, rights, etc.) into action, practice, or use: to exercise freedom of speech.
- to use or display in one’s action or procedure: to exercise judgment.
- to make use of (one’s privileges, powers, etc.): to exercise one’s constitutional rights.
- to discharge (a function); perform: to exercise the duties of one’s office.
- to have as an effect: to exercise an influence on someone.
- to worry; make uneasy; annoy: to be much exercised about one’s health.
verb (used without object), ex·er·cised, ex·er·cis·ing.
- to go through exercises; take bodily exercise.
verb (mainly tr)
- to put into use; employto exercise tact
- (intr) to take exercise or perform exercises; exert one’s muscles, etc, esp in order to keep fit
- to practise using in order to develop or trainto exercise one’s voice
- to perform or make proper use ofto exercise one’s rights
- to bring to bear; exertto exercise one’s influence
- (often passive) to occupy the attentions of, esp so as to worry or vexto be exercised about a decision
- military to carry out or cause to carry out, manoeuvres, simulated combat operations, etc
noun
- physical exertion, esp for the purpose of development, training, or keeping fit
- mental or other activity or practice, esp in order to develop a skill
- a set of movements, questions, tasks, etc, designed to train, improve, or test one’s ability in a particular fieldpiano exercises
- a performance or work of art done as practice or to demonstrate a technique
- the performance of a function; dischargethe exercise of one’s rights; the object of the exercise is to win
- (sometimes plural) military a manoeuvre or simulated combat operation carried out for training and evaluation
- (usually plural) US and Canadian a ceremony or formal routine, esp at a school or collegeopening exercises; graduation exercises
- gymnastics a particular type of event, such as performing on the horizontal bar
n.mid-14c., “condition of being in active operation; practice for the sake of training,” from Old French exercice (13c.) “exercise, execution of power; physical or spiritual exercise,” from Latin exercitium “training, exercise,” from exercitare, frequentative of exercere “keep busy, drive on,” literally “remove restraint,” from ex- “off” (see ex-) + arcere “keep away, prevent, enclose,” from PIE *ark- “to hold, contain, guard” (see arcane). Original sense may have been driving farm animals to the field to plow. Meaning “physical activity” first recorded in English late 14c.; in reference to written schoolwork from early 17c. The ending was abstracted for formations such as dancercise (1967); jazzercise (1977); and boxercise (1985). v.late 14c., “to employ, put into active use,” from exercise (n.); originally “to make use of;” also in regard to mental and spiritual training; sense of “engage in physical activity” is from 1650s. Related: Exercised; exercises; exercising. n.
- Active bodily exertion performed to develop or maintain fitness.