police

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Derived terms 1.3.4 Related terms 1.3.5 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.5 See also 2 Czech 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Noun 3 French 3.1 Etymology 3.2 Pronunciation 3.3 Noun 3.4 Usage notes 3.5 Related terms

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Middle French police, from Latin politia (“‘state, government’”), from Ancient Greek πόλις (polis), “‘city’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /pəˈliːs/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

Wikipedia

[edit] Noun

police (uncountable)

1. An organisation granted the legal authority to enforce the law. See usage note.
   • Call the police!
   • The police operating in New York City operate under the New York City Police Department, several other City agencies and boards, and several public authorities.
2. (plural only; not used in singular form) Members of the police force.
   • Three police arrived in two cars.
   • The policewoman arrived in her car.
3. (US, singular, nonstandard) (plural=police) A police officer
   • 2006, David Simon, Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets^[1], ISBN 0805080759, page 440:

     This time it is the worst kind of call a murder police can get.

[edit] Usage notes

• Formerly a singular noun, police (#1) is now almost always used as a collective noun with a plural verb, as in "Run, the police are coming!"

[edit] Synonyms

• the cobblers
• the fuzz
• pigs
• 5-0
• popo
• the heat
• filth
• cops/coppers
• bobbies
• peelers
• woodentops (UK - referring to uniformed officers)
• 6-up

[edit] Derived terms

chief of police police box police captain police car police chief police commissioner police constable police department

police detective police dog police force police headquarters police jury police lieutenant policeman police officer police precinct

police record police sergeant police squad police state police station police van police wagon policewoman

[edit] Related terms

• policy
• political
• politician
• politicize
• politic
• politics
• polity

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to police (third-person singular simple present polices, present participle policing, simple past and past participle policed)

1. (transitive) To enforce the law and keep order among (a group).

   Extra security was hired to police the crowd at the big game.

2. (transitive) To patrol or clean an area.
   • 2006, Robert B. Parker, Hundred-Dollar Baby, Putnam, ISBN 0399153764, page 275,

     "Fire off several rounds in a residential building and stop to police the brass?"

[edit] See also

• Wikipedia article on police

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[edit] Czech

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

police f.

1. shelf (structure)

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[edit] French

[edit] Etymology

From Latin politia (“‘state, government’”), from Ancient Greek πόλις (polis), “‘city’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

•  audio^{help, file}
• IPA: /pɔ.lis/, SAMPA: /pO.lis/

[edit] Noun

police f

1. police
2. (typography) fount, font

[edit] Usage notes

• Police is a singular noun in French, taking the singular form of a verb, as in "Fuyez, la police arrive!" ("Run, the police are coming!")

[edit] Related terms

• policier