EXERCISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does exercise mean? 

• EXERCISE (noun)
  The noun EXERCISE has 6 senses:

1. the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

2. the act of using

3. systematic training by multiple repetitions

4. a task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding

5. (usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches

6. an action, often used negatively and without consequences

  Familiarity information: EXERCISE used as a noun is common.

• EXERCISE (verb)
  The verb EXERCISE has 5 senses:

1. put to use

2. carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions

3. give a workout to

4. do physical exercise

5. learn by repetition

  Familiarity information: EXERCISE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXERCISE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

exercise; exercising; physical exercise; physical exertion; workout

Context example:

the physical exertion required by his work kept him fit

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"):

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)

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)

Derivation:

exercise (do physical exercise)

exercise (give a workout to)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of using

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

employment; exercise; usage; use; utilisation; utilization

Context example:

skilled in the utilization of computers

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 3

Meaning:

Systematic training by multiple repetitions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

drill; exercise; practice; practice session; recitation

Context example:

practice makes perfect

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)

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

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

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

Derivation:

exercise (learn by repetition)

Sense 4

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

example; exercise

Context example:

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

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

lesson (a task assigned for individual study)

Sense 5

Meaning:

(usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

academic exercises

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)

Sense 6

Meaning:

An action, often used negatively and without consequences

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

an exercise in cheap talk

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

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

• EXERCISE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Put to use

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

exercise; exert

Context example:

exert one's power or influence

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 2

Meaning:

Carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

do; exercise; practice; practise

Context example:

practice law

"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)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Give a workout to

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

exercise; work; work out

Context example:

this puzzle will exercise your mind

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 4

Meaning:

Do physical exercise

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

exercise; work out

Context example:

She works out in the gym every day

"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 5

Meaning:

Learn by repetition

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

drill; exercise; practice; practise

Context example:

Pianists practice scales

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)

 Context examples 

Before you begin exercising, this is the month you should have your annual medical exam to find out what your doctor suggests you do and not do.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

This was repeated when they were exercising and when they were deprived of sleep.

(Poor Sleep, Lack of Exercise Increase Risk of Nut Allergy, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

All of them were also given an exercise regime and diet plan.

(Supplements of 'Good Bacteria' Can Enhance Weight Loss in Dieters, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Researchers say they also offer no-cost spaces for people to exercise, which helps drive down obesity rates.

(People Living Near Parks in Cities Less Likely to Face Early Death, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

I have often seen the militia of Lorbrulgrud drawn out to exercise, in a great field near the city of twenty miles square.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

The latter gave him exercise, saved him hours of time for work, and enabled him to see Ruth just the same.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The analysis also adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, regular exercise, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and other present conditions like hypertension.

(Frequently brushing teeth may help prevent heart attacks, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Exercise is known to improve how the body manages blood sugar levels and thereby reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome in non-pregnant women.

(Exercise in pregnancy improves health of obese mothers by restoring their tissues, University of Cambridge)

Researchers will also explore whether post-partum cardiovascular risk can be reduced by diet, exercise, medications, and other interventions.

(First-time pregnancy complications linked to increased risk of hypertension later in life, National Institutes of Health)

A small study finds that healthy older people who exercise regularly have fewer problems with word retrieval.

(Exercise May Help Seniors with Word, Memory Problems, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)