Library / English Dictionary

EXERCISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An action, often used negatively and without consequences

Example:

an exercise in cheap talk

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("exercise" is a kind of...):

action (something done (usually as opposed to something said))

Sense 2

Meaning:

The activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

Example:

the physical exertion required by his work kept him fit

Synonyms:

exercise; exercising; physical exercise; physical exertion; workout

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("exercise" is a kind of...):

effort; elbow grease; exertion; sweat; travail (use of physical or mental energy; hard work)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exercise"):

yoga (a system of physical, breathing and meditation exercises practiced to promote control of the body and mind)

stomach exercise; tummy crunch (an exercise designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles)

neck exercise (exercise designed to strengthen the neck muscles)

leg exercise (exercise designed to strengthen the leg muscles)

back exercise (exercise designed to strengthen the back muscles)

arm exercise (exercise designed to strengthen the arm muscles)

stretch; stretching (exercise designed to extend the limbs and muscles to their full extent)

Kegel exercises; pubococcygeus exercises (exercises for women designed to improve the ability to hold urine)

isotonic exercise (exercise in which opposing muscles contract and there is controlled movement (tension is constant while the lengths of the muscles change))

isometric exercise; isometrics (muscle-building exercises (or a system of musclebuilding exercises) involving muscular contractions against resistance without movement (the muscles contracts but the length of the muscle does not change))

calisthenics; callisthenics (light exercises designed to promote general fitness)

anaerobic exercise; bodybuilding; muscle building; musclebuilding (exercise that builds muscles through tension)

exercise set; set (several exercises intended to be done in series)

kick up (raising the feet backward with the hands on the ground; a first movement in doing a handstand)

gymnastic exercise ((gymnastics) an exercise designed to develop and display strength and agility and balance (usually performed with or on some gymnastic apparatus))

cardiopulmonary exercise (exercise intended to strengthen the circulatory system)

Derivation:

exercise (do physical exercise)

exercise (give a workout to)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding

Example:

you must work the examples at the end of each chapter in the textbook

Synonyms:

example; exercise

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("exercise" is a kind of...):

lesson (a task assigned for individual study)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Systematic training by multiple repetitions

Example:

practice makes perfect

Synonyms:

drill; exercise; practice; practice session; recitation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("exercise" is a kind of...):

grooming; preparation; training (activity leading to skilled behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exercise"):

target practice (practice in shooting at targets)

shadowboxing (sparring with an imaginary opponent (for exercise or training))

scrimmage ((American football) practice play between a football team's squads)

brushup; review (practice intended to polish performance or refresh the memory)

dry run; rehearsal (a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert))

rehearsal ((psychology) a form of practice; repetition of information (silently or aloud) in order to keep it in short-term memory)

military drill (training in marching and the use of weapons)

manual; manual of arms ((military) a prescribed drill in handling a rifle)

fire drill (an exercise intended to train people in duties and escape procedures to be followed in case of fire)

Derivation:

exercise (learn by repetition)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The act of using

Example:

skilled in the utilization of computers

Synonyms:

employment; exercise; usage; use; utilisation; utilization

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("exercise" is a kind of...):

activity (any specific behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exercise"):

application; practical application (the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose)

recycling (the act of processing used or abandoned materials for use in creating new products)

development; exploitation (the act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful)

abuse; misuse (improper or excessive use)

play (utilization or exercise)

practice (the exercise of a profession)

Derivation:

exercise (put to use)

exercise (carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions)

Sense 6

Meaning:

(usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches

Example:

academic exercises

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("exercise" is a kind of...):

ceremonial; ceremonial occasion; ceremony; observance (a formal event performed on a special occasion)

Domain usage:

plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "exercise"):

commencement; commencement ceremony; commencement exercise; graduation; graduation exercise (an academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Do physical exercise

Example:

She works out in the gym every day

Synonyms:

exercise; work out

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

"Exercise" entails doing...:

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Verb group:

exercise; work; work out (give a workout to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "exercise"):

limber up; loosen up; warm up (make one's body limber or suppler by stretching, as if to prepare for strenuous physical activity)

train (exercise in order to prepare for an event or competition)

tumble (do gymnastics, roll and turn skillfully)

strengthen; tone; tone up (give a healthy elasticity to)

press; weight-lift; weightlift (lift weights)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence examples:

They exercise

They exercise themselves

Derivation:

exercise (the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit)

exerciser (sports equipment used in gymnastic exercises)

exercising (the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give a workout to

Example:

this puzzle will exercise your mind

Synonyms:

exercise; work; work out

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "exercise" is one way to...):

put to work; work (cause to work)

Cause:

exercise; work out (do physical exercise)

Verb group:

exercise; work out (do physical exercise)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "exercise"):

warm up (cause to do preliminary exercises so as to stretch the muscles)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They exercise the animals

Derivation:

exercise (the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit)

exerciser (sports equipment used in gymnastic exercises)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Learn by repetition

Example:

Pianists practice scales

Synonyms:

drill; exercise; practice; practise

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "exercise" is one way to...):

learn; read; study; take (be a student of a certain subject)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

exercise (systematic training by multiple repetitions)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Put to use

Example:

exert one's power or influence

Synonyms:

exercise; exert

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Hypernyms (to "exercise" is one way to...):

apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

exercise (the act of using)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions

Example:

practice law

Synonyms:

do; exercise; practice; practise

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

"Exercise" entails doing...:

do work; work (be employed)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "exercise"):

shamanise; shamanize (practice shamanism)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

exercise (the act of using)

Credits

 Context examples: 

I have told you that Mr. Blessington generally chose this hour of the day for his exercise.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I may show it to Jonathan some day if there is in it anything worth sharing, but it is really an exercise book.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The doctors had always said that I had a remarkable constitution, but I had never developed it or my body through exercise.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

For a long time, though studying and working patiently, I had accustomed myself to robust exercise.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

You need the exercise, Hannah would enjoy the rest, and John would find his wife again.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

My friend Watson could tell you that I spent a whole morning in that exercise.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He had a garden and two or three fields round his house, and there he would take his exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave his room.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The training programme has been developed by researchers from the UGR, and consists of exercises based on types of activities that stimulate the brain areas responsible for the regulation and control of attention.

(Study reveals attention training improves intelligence and brain function of children, University of Granada)

It may also include information about medicines taken and about diet and exercise.

(Personal health record, NCI Dictionary)

A doctor who specializes in physical medicine (the prevention and treatment of disease or injury with physical methods, such as exercise and machines).

(Physiatrist, NCI Dictionary)