noun

1. The state of being an employee; employment.

   “The school district has six thousand teachers in its employ.”

2. The act of employing someone or making use of something; employment.

verb

1. To hire (somebody for work or a job).

   “Yesterday our local garage employed a new mechanic.”

2. To use (somebody for a job, or something for a task).

   “The burglar employed a jemmy to get in.”

3. To make busy.

Synonyms: hire, apply, use, utilize