v.
Pronunciation: im- ' plo ̇ i, em-
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English emploien, from Anglo-French empleier, emploier, emplier to entangle, apply, make use of, from Latin implicare to enfold, involve, from in- + plicare to fold ― more at PLY
Date: 15th century
1 a : to make use of (someone or something inactive) < employ a pen for sketching> b : to use (as time) advantageously <a job that employ ed her skills> c (1) : to use or engage the services of (2) : to provide with a job that pays wages or a salary <a company that employ s fifty>
2 : to devote to or direct toward a particular activity or person < employ ed all her energies to help the poor>
synonyms see USE
– em · ploy · er noun