The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Apply \Ap*ply"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Applied; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Applying.] [OF. aplier, F. appliquer, fr. L. applicare to
   join, fix, or attach to; ad + plicare to fold, to twist
   together. See Applicant, Ply.]
   1. To lay or place; to put or adjust (one thing to another);
      -- with to; as, to apply the hand to the breast; to apply
      medicaments to a diseased part of the body.
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            He said, and the sword his throat applied. --Dryden.
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   2. To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose,
      or in a particular case; to appropriate; to devote; as, to
      apply money to the payment of a debt.
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   3. To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable,
      fitting, or relative; as, to apply the testimony to the
      case; to apply an epithet to a person.
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            Yet God at last
            To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied. --Milton.
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   4. To fix closely; to engage and employ diligently, or with
      attention; to attach; to incline.
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            Apply thine heart unto instruction.   --Prov. xxiii.
                                                  12.
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   5. To direct or address. [R.]
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            Sacred vows . . . applied to grisly Pluto. --Pope.
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   6. To betake; to address; to refer; -- used reflexively.
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            I applied myself to him for help.     --Johnson.
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   7. To busy; to keep at work; to ply. [Obs.]
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            She was skillful in applying his "humors." --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.
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   8. To visit. [Obs.]
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            And he applied each place so fast.    --Chapman.
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   Applied chemistry. See under Chemistry.

   Applied mathematics. See under Mathematics.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

applied mathematics
    n 1: the branches of mathematics that are involved in the study
         of the physical or biological or sociological world [syn:
         applied mathematics, applied math]