apply

Etymology 1

From Middle English aplien, applien, from Old French applier, (French appliquer), from Latin applicō (“join, fix, or attach to”); from ad + plicō (“fold, twist together”). See applicant, ply.

verb

1. (transitive) To lay or place; to put (one thing to another)
   to apply cream to a rash
   He said, and to the sword his throat applied. 1697, John Dryden, Translation of Virgil's Aeneid
2. (transitive) To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case
   to apply funds to the repayment of a debt
3. (transitive) To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relative
   We need to apply the skills we've learned to solve this problem
4. (transitive) To put closely; to join; to engage and employ diligently, or with attention
5. (reflexive) To work diligently and attentively.
6. (transitive) To address; to refer; generally used reflexively.
7. (intransitive) To submit oneself as a candidate (with the adposition "to" designating the recipient of the submission, and the adposition "for" designating the position).
   I recently applied to the tavern for a job as a bartender.
   Most of the colleges she applied to were ones she thought she had a good chance of getting into.
   Many of them don't know it, but almost a third of the inmates are eligible to apply for parole or work-release programs.
   Southern Pacific Communications Co. (SP) has applied to the FCC for approval of the first coast-to-coast digital data transmission service. August 7, 1974, Ronald A. Frank, “SP Seeks Approval for Coast-to-Coast Digital Net”, in Computerworld, page 15
8. (intransitive) To pertain or be relevant to a specified individual or group.
   That rule only applies to foreigners.
9. (obsolete) To busy; to keep at work; to ply.
10. (obsolete) To visit.

Etymology 2

apple + -y.

adj

1. Alternative spelling of appley