Police Definition
pə-lēs
policed, polices, policing
noun
polices
The governmental department (of a city, state, etc.) organized for keeping order, enforcing the law, and preventing, detecting, and prosecuting crimes.
Webster's New World
The regulation within a community of morals, safety, sanitation, etc.; public order; law enforcement.
Webster's New World
A governmental force, or body of persons, established and maintained for keeping order, etc.
Webster's New World
A private organization like this.
Security police at a college.
Webster's New World
A group that admonishes, cautions, or reminds.
Grammar police; fashion police.
American Heritage
verb
policed, polices, policing
To control, protect, or keep orderly with or as police or a similar force.
To police the streets.
Webster's New World
To observe and issue warnings or correctives regarding.
Policing someone's grammar.
American Heritage
To make or keep (a military camp, post, etc.) clean and orderly.
Webster's New World
To enforce the law and keep order among (a group).
Extra security was hired to police the crowd at the big game.
Wiktionary
To patrol an area.
Wiktionary
Origin of Police
-
French from Old French policie civil organization from Late Latin polītīa from Latin the State from Greek polīteia from polītēs citizen from polis city pelə-3 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Middle French police, from Latin politia (“state, government"), from Ancient Greek πολιτεία (politeia).
From Wiktionary
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