Collins English-English Dictionary

exercise ['εksə"saɪz]

1. 1. vb [mainly tr] to put into use; employ

   to exercise tact

2. 2. vi. [intr] to take exercise or perform exercises; exert one's muscles, etc, esp in order to keep fit

3. 3. vi. to practise using in order to develop or train

   to exercise one's voice

4. 4. vi. to perform or make proper use of

   to exercise one's rights

5. 5. vi. to bring to bear; exert

   to exercise one's influence

6. 6. vi. [often passive] to occupy the attentions of, esp so as to worry or vex

   to be exercised about a decision

7. 7. vi. [Military] to carry out or cause to carry out, manoeuvres, simulated combat operations, etc

8. 8. n physical exertion, esp for the purpose of development, training, or keeping fit

9. 9. n mental or other activity or practice, esp in order to develop a skill

10. 10. n a set of movements, questions, tasks, etc, designed to train, improve, or test one's ability in a particular field

    piano exercises

11. 11. n a performance or work of art done as practice or to demonstrate a technique

12. 12. n the performance of a function; discharge

    the exercise of one's rights

    the object of the exercise is to win

13. 13. n [sometimes plural] [Military] a manoeuvre or simulated combat operation carried out for training and evaluation

14. 14. n [usually plural] [US and Canadian] a ceremony or formal routine, esp at a school or college

    opening exercises

    graduation exercises

15. 15. n [gymnastics] a particular type of event, such as performing on the horizontal bar

16. 16. n [Etymology] C14: from Old French exercice, from Latin exercitium, from exercere to drill, from ex-¹ + arcere to ward off