exercise vs shortcut

exercise

verb
  • To use (a right, an option, etc.); to put into practice. 

  • To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious. 

  • To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop. 

  • To perform physical activity for health or training. 

noun
  • Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness. 

  • The performance of an office, ceremony, or duty. 

  • Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability. 

  • A setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use. 

shortcut

verb
  • To take or use a shortcut 

noun
  • A keyboard shortcut: a combination of keystrokes that provides easier access to a command or operation. 

  • A path between two points that is faster than the commonly used paths. 

  • A method to accomplish something that omits one or more steps. 

  • A file that points to the location of another file and serves as a quick way to access it. 

How often have the words exercise and shortcut occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )