exercise

[[t]e̱ksə(r)saɪz[/t]]

♦♦

exercises, exercising, exercised

1) VERB If you exercise something such as your authority, your rights, or a good quality, you use it or put it into effect. [FORMAL]

[V n] They are merely exercising their right to free speech...

[V n] `The powers delegated to me,' the President said, `will be exercised with due responsibility.'...

[V n] Britain has warned travellers to exercise prudence and care.

N-SING: N of n

Exercise is also a noun.

Social structures are maintained through the exercise of political and economic power... Leadership does not rest on the exercise of force alone.

2) VERB When you exercise, you move your body energetically in order to get fit and to remain healthy.

She exercises two or three times a week...

Never keep on exercising if you have even the slightest chest pain...

[V n] To gradually reduce weight at the same time as exercising the body does a great deal to improve one's health.

N-UNCOUNT

Exercise is also a noun.

Lack of exercise can lead to feelings of depression and exhaustion... Aerobic exercise moves our entire body and uses most major muscles.

3) VERB If a movement or activity exercises a part of your body, it keeps it strong, healthy, or in good condition.

[V n] They call rowing the perfect sport. It exercises every major muscle group.

4) N-COUNT: usu pl Exercises are a series of movements or actions which you do in order to get fit, remain healthy, or practise for a particular physical activity.

These stomach exercises will tighten abdominal muscles...

I do special neck and shoulder exercises...

That's when I try to meditate or do some deep-breathing exercises.

5) N-COUNT: usu pl, also on N Exercises are military activities and operations which are not part of a real war, but which allow the armed forces to practise for a real war.

General Powell predicted that in the future it might even be possible to stage joint military exercises...

The military truck was taking 14 men on exercise in a remote area of Norway.

Syn:

manoeuvres

6) N-COUNT An exercise is a short activity or piece of work that you do, for example in school, which is designed to help you learn a particular skill.

Try working through the opening exercises in this chapter...

He took up piano lessons, combining standard classical exercises with his own attempts at Gershwin.

7) N-PLURAL Exercises is an official ceremony, in which people make speeches and present awards. [AM]

Vicky and Gary attended the graduation exercises at Columbia.

8) N-COUNT: usu sing, usu N in n/-ing If you describe an activity as an exercise in a particular quality or result, you mean that it has that quality or result, especially when it was not intended to have it.

Her morning was an exercise in indecision. She tried on everything in her closet but couldn't remember what he'd liked...

As an exercise in stating the obvious, this could scarcely be faulted...

Think what a waste of taxpayers' money the whole exercise was.

9) VERB If something exercises you or your mind, you think or talk about it a great deal, especially because you are worried or concerned about it.

[V n] This has been a major problem exercising the minds of scientists around the world...

[V n] The proper role of appeal judges is an issue that has long exercised the finest legal minds.