ex·er·cise
(ĕk′sər-sīz′)n.
1.
a. Activity that requires physical or mental exertion, especially when performed to develop or maintain fitness: walks every day for exercise.
b. A specific activity performed to develop or maintain fitness or a skill: sit-ups and other exercises; a piano exercise.
2.
a. The active use or application of something: the exercise of good judgment.
b. The discharge of a duty, function, or office.
3. An activity having a specified aspect: an undertaking that was an exercise in futility.
4. A military maneuver or training activity.
5. exercises A ceremony that includes speeches, presentations, and other activities: graduation exercises.
v. ex·er·cised, ex·er·cis·ing, ex·er·cis·es
v.tr.
1.
a. To subject to practice or exertion in order to train, strengthen, or develop: exercise the back muscles; exercise the memory.
b. To put through exercises: exercise a platoon. See Synonyms at practice.
2.
a. To make active use of; employ, apply, or exert: exercise restraint; exercise control.
b. To discharge (duties, for example).
3.
a. To carry out the functions of: exercise the role of disciplinarian.
b. To execute the terms of (a stock option, for example).
4. To alarm, worry, or anger; upset: an injustice that exercised the whole community.
v.intr.
To engage in exercise.
[Middle English, from Old French exercice, from Latin exercitium, from exercitus, past participle of exercēre, to exercise : ex-, ex- + arcēre, to restrain.]
ex′er·cis′a·ble adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  exercising - the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit; "the doctor recommended regular exercise"; "he did some exercising"; "the physical exertion required by his work kept him fit"cardiopulmonary exercise - exercise intended to strengthen the circulatory system gymnastic exercise - (gymnastics) an exercise designed to develop and display strength and agility and balance (usually performed with or on some gymnastic apparatus) kick up - raising the feet backward with the hands on the ground; a first movement in doing a handstand elbow grease, exertion, effort, travail, sweat - use of physical or mental energy; hard work; "he got an A for effort"; "they managed only with great exertion" exercise set, set - several exercises intended to be done in series; "he did four sets of the incline bench press" anaerobic exercise, bodybuilding, muscle building, musclebuilding - exercise that builds muscles through tension calisthenics, callisthenics - light exercises designed to promote general fitness; "several different calisthenics were illustrated in the video" 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) isotonic exercise - exercise in which opposing muscles contract and there is controlled movement (tension is constant while the lengths of the muscles change); "the classic isotonic exercise is lifting free weights" Kegel exercises, pubococcygeus exercises - exercises for women designed to improve the ability to hold urine stretching, stretch - exercise designed to extend the limbs and muscles to their full extent arm exercise - exercise designed to strengthen the arm muscles back exercise - exercise designed to strengthen the back muscles leg exercise - exercise designed to strengthen the leg muscles neck exercise - exercise designed to strengthen the neck muscles stomach exercise, tummy crunch - an exercise designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles yoga - a system of exercises practiced as part of the Hindu discipline to promote control of the body and mind |
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