/errth"werrk'/ , n.
1. excavation and piling of earth in connection with an engineering operation.
2. Mil. a construction formed chiefly of earth for protection against enemy fire, used in both offensive and defensive operations.
3. an artistic work that consists of a large-scale alteration or modification of an area of land in a configuration designed by an artist or of an artist's sculptural installation, as in a museum or gallery, of soil, rock, or similar elemental materials.
[ 1625-35; EARTH + WORK ]