police
[noun]
Synonyms:
- the law (informal), boys in blue (informal), constabulary, fuzz (slang), police force, the Old Bill (slang)
[verb]
Synonyms:
- control, guard, patrol, protect, regulate, watch

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. po‧lice¹ S1 W1 /pəˈliːs/ noun [plural]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin politia 'government', from polites; ⇒ politic]

1. the people who work for an official organization whose job is to catch criminals and make sure that people obey the law:
Police surrounded the courthouse.

2. the police the official organization whose job is to catch criminals and make sure that people obey the law:
Quick! Call the police!
By the time the police arrived the man had fled.
He was arrested by the police for dangerous driving.
He plans to join the police when he leaves school.
⇒ military police, secret police


GRAMMAR
Police and the police are plural:
Police are still searching for the murder weapon.
The police were called.
Do not say 'a police'. Say a police officer, a policeman, or a policewoman.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. police² verb [transitive]

1. to keep control over a particular area in order to make sure that laws are obeyed and that people and property are protected, using a police or military force:
The army was brought in to police the city centre.

2. to control a particular activity or industry by making sure that people follow the correct rules for what they do:
The agency was set up to police the nuclear power industry.
⇒ policing

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

police
noun
ADJ. armed, mounted | plain-clothes, uniformed | anti-riot, riot | paramilitary, secret, security | federal, local, national, state
VERB + POLICE call | alert, tell
POLICE + VERB arrest sb | patrol sth | interview sb, question sb | investigate sth | appeal for sth Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
POLICE + NOUN chief, constable, officer | spokesman | headquarters, station | cell He spent the night in a police cell after his arrest.
custody | car, helicopter, van, vehicle an unmarked police car
driver, marksman | dog, horse | authorities, force, service | unit | enquiries, investigation | escort The visiting fans returned to the railway station under police escort.
patrol A routine police patrol spotted signs of a break-in at the offices.
raid Nine arrests were made in a series of police raids across the city.
presence There was a huge police presence at the demonstration.
protection All prosecution witnesses were given police protection.
cordon, lines Some protesters managed to break through the police cordon.
chase | informer | brutality, harassment
PHRASES helping the police with their enquiries No arrest has been made, but a man is helping the police with their enquiries.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

police

call the police
Staff called the police when they noticed a broken window.
tell the police (also inform the police formal)
I think we should tell the police.
report something to the police
Why are so many crimes not reported to the police?
the police investigate something
Sussex Police are investigating a break-in at the club.
the police catch somebody
The police are no nearer to catching his killer.
the police arrest somebody/make an arrest
The police arrested Mr Fox as he tried to leave the country.
Officer Singer said the police have made no arrests in the robbery.
the police question/interview somebody
Police are questioning two men about the deaths.
the police charge somebody (=officially say that someone will be judged in a court for committing a crime)
The police have charged the parents with murder.
the police hold somebody (also the police detain somebody formal) (=keep them at a police station)
The police can hold suspects for up to 48 hours without charge.
The police detained several activists, but released them after questioning.
the police release somebody
The police released William and all charges were dropped.
the police appeal for something
Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack.
the police raid/storm a place
The police raided his home and took his computer.
armed police
Armed police surrounded the house.
uniformed police
Uniformed police and plainclothes detectives were present in large numbers.
riot police
Riot police moved in with tear gas.
traffic police British English
Traffic police closed the motorway after the accident.
a police investigation
Despite a police investigation, no arrests were made.
a police raid (=a surprise visit made by the police to search for something illegal)
Six people were arrested in a police raid on the bar.
a police escort (=a police officer or officers that go with someone to guard or protect them)
The teams will parade through the city with a police escort.
a police cordon (=a line of police officers who are preventing people going somewhere)
The demonstrators tried to break through a police cordon.
the police force
Her son is in the police force.
a police officer
The police officer asked to see his driving licence.
a police station (=building where the police work)
They took him down to the police station to ask him some questions.
a police car
The men were being followed by an unmarked police car.
a police dog
Police dogs were used to catch the thieves.
police brutality/harassment (=when the police hit or threaten people)
He claims to have witnessed many instances of police brutality.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

police
noun
1.
BAD: The police was not able to find anything.
GOOD: The police were not able to find anything.

Usage Note:
Police is always used with a plural verb: 'The police have a very difficult job to do.'

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2.
BAD: He was charged with shooting a police.
GOOD: He was charged with shooting a police officer.

Usage Note:
the police = the police force in general: 'If you get any more of these phone calls, you should contact the police.'
policeman, policewoman, police officer = a member of the police force: 'There are two police officers outside waiting to see you.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲