em‧ploy 1 S3 W2 / ɪmplɔɪ / 动词 [及物动词]
1 to pay someone to work for you :
The factory employs over 2,000 people.
employ somebody as something
Kelly is employed as a mechanic.
employ somebody to do something
We have been employed to look at ways of reducing waste.
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In everyday English, people usually say give someone a job rather than employ someone, and have a job rather than be employed :
They gave him a job delivering furniture.
He has a job at the factory.
2 to use a particular object, method, skill etc in order to achieve something
employ a method/technique/tactic etc
The report examines teaching methods employed in the classroom.
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In everyday English, people usually say use a method rather than employ a method.
3 [通常被动态] formal to spend your time doing a particular thing
be employed in (doing) something
Her days are employed in gardening and voluntary work.
THESAURUS
use : Do you mind if I use your phone? | They rebuilt the church using local stone. | We use a range of different methods.
make use of something to use something that is available to you : Staff can make use of a wide range of facilities. | She made full use of her contacts within the organization.
employ formal to use a particular method or skill in order to achieve something : The surgeons employed a new technique. | They employed every means at their disposal (= every available method ) .
utilize formal to use something that is available to you, for a practical purpose : The company has developed a new way to utilize solar energy. | a better way of utilizing the space
exploit to use something as fully and effectively as possible, or to use something that will give you an advantage over your opponent : The country’s natural resources have not yet been fully exploited. | He was quick to exploit any weakness in his opponent’s argument.
apply to use something such as a method, idea, or system in a particular situation : New technology is being applied to almost every industrial process. | I wanted to apply the things that I had learned on the course.
draw on something to use information, knowledge, or experience that you have learned in the past : He was able to draw on his own experience as a diplomat when he was writing the book. | Journalists draw on information from many different sources.
resort to something to use violence, force, threats etc as a way of achieving something : Extremists on both sides resort to violence. | We are prepared to resort to force if necessary.