exercise

noun

performance of activities in order to develop or maintain readiness or competence in various forms of endeavors
athletics,

L5830 on Wikidata ↗

verb

use
athletics,

L5831 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈɛk.sə.saɪz/ / /ˈɛk.sɚ.saɪz/ / /ˈek.sə.sɑez/

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰ Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰs Proto-Italic *eks Latin ex Latin ex- Proto-Indo-European *h₂erk-der. Proto-Italic *arkeō Latin arceō Latin exerceō Latin exercitiumder. Old French exercisebor. Middle English exercise English exercise From Middle English exercise, from Old French exercise, from Latin exercitium.

Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability.
“The teacher told us that the next exercise is to write an essay.”
“Where noyse of armes, or vew of martiall guize / Might not reuiue desire of knightly exercize.”
Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
“I like to do my exercises every morning before breakfast. I do calisthenics for physical exercise, and I do crosswords for mental exercise.”
“Regular mental exercise keeps the circuits of the brain active and healthy and reduces the risk of dementia.”
Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
“Swimming is good exercise.”
“She does stomach exercises every day.”
Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
“Such exercises as puzzles and chess can help keep the mind sharp as we age.”
A setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use.
“The law guarantees us the free exercise of our rights.”
“We urge the exercise of patience and restraint.”
The performance of an office, ceremony, or duty.
“I assisted the ailing vicar in the exercise of his parish duties.”
“Lewis[…] refused even those of the church of England[…]the public exercise of their religion.”
That which gives practice; a trial; a test.
“But patience is more oft the exerciſe / Of Saints, the trial of thir fortitude,”

verb

To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop.
“to exercise troops or horses; to exercise one's brain with a puzzle”
To perform physical activity for health or training.
“I exercise at the gym every day.”
To use (a right, an option, etc.); to put into practice.
“exercise caution”
“The tenant exercised his option to renew the tenancy.”
To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious.
“exercised with pain”
“It is not a question that has exercised me greatly in the past.”
To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to.
“And herein doe I exercise my selfe to haue alwayes a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”
“Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence.”