n.
Pronunciation: p ə - ' l ē s
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: po · liced ; po · lic · ing
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle French policier, from police conduct of public affairs; in other senses, from 2 police
Date: 1589
1 archaic : GOVERN
2 : to control, regulate, or keep in order by use of police
3 : to make clean and put in order
4 a : to supervise the operation, execution, or administration of to prevent or detect and prosecute violations of rules and regulations b : to exercise such supervision over the policies and activities of
5 : to perform the functions of a police force in or over