/ ˈwɜːkə(r); NAmE ˈwɜːrk-/ noun
1.
(often in compounds) a person who works, especially one who does a particular kind of work :
farm / factory / office workers
rescue / aid / research workers
temporary / part-time / casual workers
manual / skilled / unskilled workers
—see also guest worker , sex worker , social worker
2.
[ usually pl. ] a person who is employed in a company or industry, especially sb who does physical work rather than organizing things or managing people :
Conflict between employers and workers intensified and the number of strikes rose.
talks between workers and management
3.
(usually after an adjective) a person who works in a particular way :
a hard / fast / quick / slow worker
4.
a female bee that helps do the work of the group of bees but does not reproduce
—compare drone , queen bee
•
IDIOMS
see fast adjective