employ-v; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: hire for work

Commentary: Syntax Includes: NP1[agent[human]] EMPLOY NP2[patient[human]] (PP) NP1[agent[human]] EMPLOY NP2[patient[human]] (ADVP)
NOTE: NP1 may be an individual or an organization.

Examples:
Their firm employs three thousand people worldwide.
John has been employing recent college graduates for his small business.
Sally was employed by a law firm before she started her own consultancy.

Mappings:
VerbNet: hire-13.5.3
FrameNet: Employing
PropBank: employ.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 2: utilize or use

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] EMPLOY NP2[instrument] [goal]

Examples:
This surgical technique has only recently been employed with heart patients.
In the paper they describe the methods employed to collect the data.
The teacher told the students they should employ their time wisely during the summer.
That child is learning to employ manipulative measures to get his way.
They employ only natural flower oils in their perfumes.

Mappings:
VerbNet: use-105.1
FrameNet: Using
PropBank: employ.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 3: keep occupied or busy

Commentary: Syntax Includes: NP1[topic] EMPLOY NP2[patient[human]] NP[human] BE_EMPLOYED [topic]
NOTE: implies time is consumed towards some end

Examples:
She has been employed with volunteer work at the hospital.
Worries employed his thoughts daily.
He was too employed with financial matters and ignoring his family.
They are employed in developing the prototype into a product.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM