English Reference

Word

application

Phoneticsap·pli·ca·tion

US/ˌæpɫəˈkeɪʃən/

UK/ˌæplɪkˈeɪʃən/

Definitions

01formal request

B1

n. a formal written request for a job, a place at a school, or a loan.

n. a formal, typically written, request for assistance, employment, or admission to an institution.

“She spent all weekend completing her application for the marketing position.”

“The admissions office received over five thousand applications for the doctoral programme, necessitating a rigorous multi-stage screening process.”

Usage

Often takes the preposition 'for' followed by the goal, or 'to' followed by the institution.

Pitfall

I made an application for the job.

I sent in an application for the job.

While 'made' is understood, common collocations for application include 'submit', 'send in', or 'complete'.

02software

B1 · Computing

n. a computer program designed to do a specific task, often called an 'app'.

n. a software program or set of programs designed for end-users to perform specific functional tasks.

“You can download the banking application from the official store.”

“The developer released a cross-platform application that synchronises user data across mobile devices and desktop workstations seamlessly.”

Usage

Commonly shortened to 'app' in informal and semi-formal contexts.

03putting something on

B2

n. the act of putting a substance like paint, cream, or medicine onto a surface.

n. the act of spreading or laying a substance onto a surface; also refers to the layer of substance itself.

“The instructions say the cream requires a second application after ten minutes.”

“A single application of the waterproof sealant is usually sufficient to protect the timber from seasonal moisture damage.”

Antonyms

04practical use

B2

n. the practical use of an idea, rule, or discovery in a real situation.

n. the practical employment or relevance of a theory, law, or principle to a specific case or circumstances.

“The new technology has many useful applications in the medical field.”

“The theoretical framework developed in the first chapter finds its practical application in the case studies presented later in the report.”

Academic

05hard work

C1

n. the act of working very hard and staying focused on a task.

n. sustained effort and diligent attention to a task or study.

“With enough application and practice, you can master any musical instrument.”

“The tutor noted that while the student was naturally gifted, he lacked the consistent application required for advanced research.”

Formal

Teaching tip

This sense is quite formal; in everyday English, speakers usually prefer 'hard work' or 'dedication'.

Antonyms

lazinessidleness

Confusables

application vs appliance

Application is a formal request or a software program, while appliance is a physical machine used for household tasks.

RememberApplication = Software or Request. Appliance = Hardware for the home.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *pel- Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ-der. Latin plicō Latin applicō Proto-Indo-European *-tisder. Proto-Italic *-tjō Latin -tiō Latin applicātiōbor. Old French aplicacionbor. Middle English applicacioun English application From Late Middle English applicacioun, borrowed from Old French aplicacion (French application), from Latin applicātiōnem, accusative singular of applicātiō (“attachment; application, inclination”), from applicō (“join to, attach; apply”). Equivalent to apply + -ication.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Collocations

application requiredirect applicationdiscuss applicationfuture applicationlimited applicationparticular applicationplanning applicationpractical application

Word family

Related words

Domains

ComputingLaw

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Very common
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference