engaged

Adjective

Synonyms: occupied booked set-aside(p)busy in use(p)meshed intermeshed

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (7)

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged“she keeps herself fully occupied with volunteer activities”“deeply engaged in conversation”Synonyms: occupied
involved in military hostilities“the desperately engaged ships continued the fight”
reserved in advanceSynonyms: booked set-aside(p)
(of facilities such as telephones or lavatories) unavailable for use by anyone else or indicating unavailability; (`engaged' is a British term for a busy telephone line)“her line is busy”“receptionists' telephones are always engaged”“the lavatory is in use”“kept getting a busy signal”Synonyms: busy in use(p)
(used of toothed parts or gears) interlocked and interacting“the gears are engaged”“meshed gears”“intermeshed twin rotors”Synonyms: meshed intermeshed
having services contracted for“the carpenter engaged (or employed) for the job is sick”
built against or attached to a wall“engaged columns”

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

committed \committed\ adj.

1.Bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude. Opposite of uncommitted.

Note: [Narrower terms: bound up, involved, wrapped up; dedicated, devoted; pledged, sworn] [WordNet 1.5]

2.Associated in an exclusive sexual relationship; also called attached. Opposite of unattached.

Note: [Narrower terms: affianced, bespoken, betrothed, engaged, pledged, promised(predicate); married] [Also See: loving.]

Syn: attached. [WordNet 1.5]

3.Consigned involuntarily to custody, as in a prison or mental institution. [WordNet 1.5]

Engaged \En*gaged"\, a.

1.Occupied; employed; busy. [1913 Webster]

2.Pledged; promised; especially, having the affections pledged; promised in marriage; affianced; betrothed. [1913 Webster]

3.Greatly interested; of awakened zeal; earnest. [1913 Webster]

4.Involved; esp., involved in a hostile encounter; as, the engaged ships continued the fight. [1913 Webster]

Engaged column. (Arch.) Same as Attached column. See under Attach, v. t. [1913 Webster]

Engage \En*gage"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Engaging.] [F. engager; pref. en- (L. in) + gage pledge, pawn. See Gage.]

1.To put under pledge; to pledge; to place under obligations to do or forbear doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to bind by contract or promise. "I to thee engaged a prince's word." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2.To gain for service; to bring in as associate or aid; to enlist; as, to engage friends to aid in a cause; to engage men for service. [1913 Webster]

3.To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw. [1913 Webster]

Good nature engages everybody to him.— Addison.[1913 Webster]

4.To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on. [1913 Webster]

Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation.— Hawthorne.[1913 Webster]

5.To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict. [1913 Webster]

A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy.— Ludlow.[1913 Webster]

6.(Mach.) To come into gear with; as, the teeth of one cogwheel engage those of another, or one part of a clutch engages the other part. [1913 Webster]