police
po·lice / pəˈlēs/ • n. [treated as pl.] (usu. the police) the civil force of a national or local government, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order. ∎ members of a police force: there are fewer women police than men. ∎ an organization engaged in the enforcement of official regulations in a specified domain: transit police | fig., humorous the fashion police.• v. [tr.] [often as n.] (policing) (of a police force) have the duty of maintaining law and order in or for (an area or event). ∎ enforce regulations or an agreement in (a particular area or domain): a UN resolution to use military force to police the no-fly zone. ∎ enforce the provisions of (a law, agreement, or treaty): the regulations will be policed by factory inspectors. ∎ maintain order and neatness in (an area, as a military camp).