apply in WordNet English dictionary

1. ask (for something)
   "He applied for a leave of absence"; "She applied for college"; "apply for a job"
   apply 
   
2. refer (a word or name) to a person or thing
   "He applied this racial slur to me!"
   apply 
   
3. put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
   "use your head!"; "we only use Spanish at home"; "I can't use this tool"; "Apply a magnetic field here"; "This thinking was applied to many projects"; "How do you utilize this tool?"; "I apply this rule to get good results"; "use the plastic bags to store the food"; "He doesn't know how to use a computer"
   use  utilize  utilise  apply  employ 
   
4. apply to a surface
   "She applied paint to the back of the house"; "Put on make-up!"
   put on  apply 
   
5. give or convey physically
   "She gave him First Aid"; "I gave him a punch in the nose"
   give  apply 
   
6. avail oneself to
   "apply a principle"; "practice a religion"; "use care when going down the stairs"; "use your common sense"; "practice non-violent resistance"
   practice  apply  use 
   
7. ensure observance of laws and rules
   "Apply the rules to everyone";
   enforce  implement  apply 
   
8. apply oneself to
   "Please apply yourself to your homework"
   apply 
   
9. be pertinent or relevant or applicable
   "The same laws apply to you!"; "This theory holds for all irrational numbers"; "The same rules go for everyone"
   apply  hold  go for 
   
10. be applicable to; as to an analysis
    "This theory lends itself well to our new data"
    lend oneself  apply