■ noun
1》 activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a result.
2》 such activity as a means of earning income.
↘ W. Indian a job.
3》 a task or tasks to be undertaken.
↘the materials for this.
↘( ~s ) chiefly Brit. activity involving construction or repair.
↘( ~s ) Theology good or moral deeds.
4》 a thing or things done or made; the result of an action.
↘( ~s ) the complete artistic production of a particular author, composer, or artist.
5》 ( ~s ) [treated as sing. ] chiefly Brit. a place where industrial or manufacturing processes are carried out.
6》 (usu. ~s ) Military a defensive structure.
7》 ( ~s ) the mechanism of a clock or other machine.
8》 Physics the exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change.
9》 ( the ~s ) informal everything needed, desired, or expected.
■ verb ( past and past participle ~ed or archaic wrought )
1》 do ~, especially as one's job.
↘have a job.
↘set to or keep at ~.
2》 (of a machine or system) function, especially properly or effectively.
↘(with reference to a machine) be or cause to be in operation.
3》 have the desired result.
↘bring about.
↘campaign.
↘( ~ on/upon ) exert influence on.
4》 bring (a material or mixture) to a desired shape or consistency.
↘( ~ in ) produce articles or pictures using (a particular material or medium).
↘produce (an article or design) using a specified material or sewing stitch.
↘cultivate (land) or extract materials from (a mine or quarry).
5》 move gradually or with difficulty into another position.
↘(of a person's features) move violently or convulsively.
6》 bring into a specified emotional state: Harold had ~ed himself into a rage.
7》 Sailing make progress to windward, with repeated tacking.
Phrases
give someone the ~s informal
1》 tell someone everything.
2》 treat someone harshly or violently.
have one's ~ cut out be faced with a hard or lengthy task.
in the ~s being planned, ~ed on, or produced.
~ to rule chiefly Brit. follow official ~ing rules and hours exactly in order to reduce output and efficiency, especially as a form of industrial action.
~ one's passage see passage .
Phrasal verbs
~ something in try to include something.
~ something off
1》 discharge a debt by ~ing.
2》 reduce or eliminate something by activity.
~ out
1》 be capable of being solved.
2》 develop in a good or specified way.
3》 engage in vigorous physical exercise.
~ out at be calculated at.
~ someone out understand someone's character.
~ something out
1》 solve something.
2》 plan something in detail.
~ someone over informal beat someone up.
~ up to proceed gradually towards (something more advanced).
~ someone up (often get ~ed up ) gradually bring someone, especially oneself, to a state of intense excitement, anger, or anxiety.
~ something up
1》 develop or improve something gradually.
2》 develop by activity or effort.
Derivatives
~less adjective
Origin
OE weorc (n.), wyrcan (v.), of Gmc origin.