Definition of: police

(pə·lēs′) noun
1. A body of civil officers, especially in a city, organized under authority to maintain order and enforce law; constabulary.
2. The whole system of internal regulation of a state, or the local government of a city or town; that department of government that maintains and enforces law and order, and prevents, detects, or deals with crime.
3. The cleansing or keeping clean of a camp or garrison; also, the soldiers detailed for the duties of policing in camp.
—v.t. ·liced, ·lic·ing
1. To protect, regulate, or maintain order in (a city, country, etc.) with or as with police.
2. U.S. To make clean or orderly, as a military camp. [<F <LL politia governmental administration <Gk. politeia polity <politēs citizen <polis city]