| 释义 |
ex·er·cise
I. \ˈeksə(r)ˌsīz\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French exercice, from Latin exercitium, from exercitus, past participle of exercēre to drive on, keep busy, from ex- ex- (I) + -ercēre (from arcēre to hold off, enclose) — more at ark
1.
a. : the act of bringing into play or realizing in action : exertion, use
< avoid accidents by the exercise of foresight >
< the violent … exercise of royal authority — T.B.Macaulay >
b. : the discharge of an official function or professional occupation
< exercise of his judicial duties >
2.
a. : regular or repeated appropriate use of a faculty, power, or bodily organ
< willpower is strengthened by exercise >
< muscles atrophy from lack of exercise >
b. : bodily exertion for the sake of developing and maintaining physical fitness
< he plays golf chiefly for the exercise >
3. : something that is performed or practiced in order to develop or improve a specific power or skill: as
a. : a set task (as a piece of writing) designed to improve a pupil's ability or to test his comprehension of a subject
< do the exercise at the end of each chapter >
< spelling exercise >
b. : an artificially devised bodily action or set of actions prescribed for regular or repeated practice as a means of gaining strength, dexterity, suppleness, or all-around competence in some field of performance
< finger exercise >
< bowing exercise >
< vocal exercises >
< breathing exercises >
4.
a. : a composition or work of art performed chiefly in order to practice or display a specific technical point or aspect : study
< exercise in double-stops >
< exercise in light and shadow effects >
b. : an artistic or intellectual performance whose value is greater in the doing than in the final result or greater for the performer than for the beholder
< a mere literary exercise >
< to balance forms, calculate proportions, and harmonize colors can be an intellectual exercise rather than an act of creative imagination — Herbert Read >
c. : any performance having a strongly marked or identifiable secondary or ulterior aspect
< a biography that … is a truly formidable exercise in unrelieved contempt — New Yorker >
d. : habitual act : practice
< the casting of metal forms in molds was an exercise older than recorded history >
5. : an act of religious practice especially in worship (as of preaching, expounding, or praying)
< exercises of devotion >
6. : a public exhibition or ceremony: as
a. : a maneuver, operation, or drill carried out for training and discipline
< a field exercise >
b. : an academic disputation, oral examination, or discourse required of a candidate for a degree and often carried on in public
c. exercises plural : a program including speeches, announcements of awards and honors, and various traditional practices of secular or religious character
< commencement exercises >
d. : an activity forming part of a regular academic routine
< salute the national flag as part of a daily school exercise — Felix Frankfurter >
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English exercisen, from exercise, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to bring into play : make effective in action
< privileges if not exercised are often lost >
< he failed to exercise good judgment in buying the car >
: bring to bear : exert
< will can only be exercised in the presence of something which retards or resists it — W.R.Inge >
< exercise her influence among all the nations of the world — Norman Angell >
b. obsolete : to carry on (an occupation) or carry out the functions of (an office)
2.
a. : to use repeatedly in order to strengthen or develop (a muscle or a bodily faculty)
< exercising his fingers daily to restore them >
b. : to train (as troops) by drills and maneuvers
< Tom was being exercised like a raw recruit — George Meredith >
c. : to give exercise to : put through exercises
3.
a. : to engage the attention and effort of
< a problem which is much exercising the minds of the city fathers — Sam Pollock >
b. : to cause anxiety, alarm, or indignation in : vex, harass
< was ever a human generation so exercised about its education as ours? — C.G.Osgood >
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to perform one's office
2. : to exert oneself : take exercise : drill, train
3. : to take part in religious observances
Synonyms: see practice |