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

1 archaic : govern
2 : to control, regulate, or keep in order by use of police
3 : to make clean and put in order
4 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 of
5 : to perform the functions of a police force in or over