exercise vs application

exercise and application both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
exercise	Yes	No	Yes	No
application	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, application is a hyponym of exercise; that is, application is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than exercise:

exercise: the act of using
application: the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose

Other hyponyms of exercise include practice, play, abuse, misuse, development, exploitation, recycling, practical application.

exercise (noun)	application (noun)
the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit	the action of putting something into operation
a task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding	a diligent effort
systematic training by multiple repetitions	the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose
the act of using	the work of applying something
an action, often used negatively and without consequences	liquid preparation having a soothing or antiseptic or medicinal action when applied to the skin
(usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches	a verbal or written request for assistance or employment or admission to a school
	a program that gives a computer instructions that provide the user with tools to accomplish a task

exercise (verb)	application (verb)
do physical exercise
give a workout to
learn by repetition
put to use
carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions