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having a practical purpose or use; derived from or involved with actual phenomena (distinguished from , opposed to ):
applied mathematics; applied science.
of or relating to those arts or crafts that have a primarily utilitarian function, or to the designs and decorations used in these arts.
to make use of as relevant, suitable, or pertinent:
to apply a theory to a problem.
to put to use, especially for a particular purpose:
to apply pressure to open a door.
to bring into action; use; employ:
He applied the brakes and skidded to a stop.
to use a label or other designation:
Don’t apply any such term to me.
to use for or assign to a specific purpose:
He applied a portion of his salary each week to savings.
to put into effect:
They applied the rules to new members only.
to devote or employ diligently or with close attention:
to apply one’s mind to a problem; to apply oneself to a task.
to place in contact with; lay or spread on:
to apply paint to a wall; to apply a bandage to a wound.
to bring into physical contact with or close proximity to:
to apply a match to gunpowder.
to credit to, as an account:
to apply $10 to his account at the store.
to be pertinent, suitable, or relevant:
The argument applies to the case. The theory doesn’t apply.
to make an or request; ask:
to apply for a job; to apply for a raise.
to lay or spread on:
The plastic coating is easy to apply on any surface.
to be placed or remain in contact:
This paint doesn’t apply very easily.
Contemporary Examples

Sofía, a 25-year-old woman who has applied for asylum and also requested anonymity, was held for two weeks.
Immigrants Held in Border Deep Freezers Rachael Bale, The Center for Investigative Reporting November 18, 2013

But the Camelot image as applied to the Kennedy presidency had some unfortunate and unforeseen consequences.
How Jackie Kennedy Invented the Camelot Legend After JFK’s Death James Piereson November 11, 2013

Skanda Amarnath is a double major in Economics and applied Mathematics entering his final year at Columbia University.
How Do You Make Inroads With Asian-Americans? November 13, 2012

After college, she was on food stamps for a while and applied for welfare benefits.
In New Jersey, Barbara Buono Is the Last Democrat Standing David Freedlander February 18, 2013

I think it can be applied to everything, and hopefully create a thousand equivalents to WindMade in other areas besides energy.
Winds of Change: Q&A: Vestas Visionary Morten Albaek Daily Beast Promotions January 26, 2011

Historical Examples

The blood of each was shed and applied separately for a special purpose.
Sanctification J. W. Byers

I did not, sir, apply it to a gentleman; I applied it to Mr Chatterton.
Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 Various

It is not only to the most dreaded diseases that he has applied the germ theory.
Louis Pasteur Ren Vallery-Radot

(a) Explain in full the meaning of stock as applied to soup.
Woman’s Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 3 Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences

In nature the heat is applied by contact with the bodies of the parent birds.
Our Domestic Birds John H. Robinson

adjective
related to or put to practical use: applied mathematics Compare pure (sense 5)
verb -plies, -plying, -plied
(transitive) to put to practical use; utilize; employ
(intransitive) to be relevant, useful, or appropriate
(transitive) to cause to come into contact with; put onto
(intransitive) often foll by for. to put in an application or request
(transitive) often foll by to. to devote (oneself, one’s efforts) with diligence
(transitive) to bring into operation or use: the police only applied the law to aliens
(transitive) to refer (a word, epithet, etc) to a person or thing
adj.

“put to practical use,” (as opposed to abstract or theoretical), 1650s, from past participle of apply. Earlier it was used in a sense of “folded” (c.1500).
v.

late 14c., “to put (one’s faculties, etc.) to some task or career,” late 14c., from Old French aploiier “apply, use, attach” (12c., Modern French appliquer), from Latin applicare “attach to, join, connect;” figuratively, “devote (oneself) to, give attention,” from ad- “to” (see ad-) + plicare “fold” (see ply (v.1)). The etymological sense is “bring things in contact with one another.” Of lotions, from early 15c. Meaning “seek a job by submitting an application for one” is from 1851. A by-form applicate is recorded from 1530s. Related: Applied; applying.