Main Entry:

¹po·lice

Pronunciation:

\pə-ˈlēs\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

po·liced; po·lic·ing

Etymology:

in sense 1, from Middle French policier, from police conduct of public affairs; in other senses, from ²police

Date:

1589

1archaic : govern2: to control, regulate, or keep in order by use of police3: to make clean and put in order4 a: to supervise the operation, execution, or administration of to prevent or detect and prosecute violations of rules and regulations b: to exercise such supervision over the policies and activities of5: to perform the functions of a police force in or over