[task] n [ME taske, fr. ONF tasque, fr. ML tasca tax or service imposed by a feudal superior, fr. taxare to tax] (14c) 1 a: a usu. assigned piece of work often to be finished within a c ertain time b: something hard or unpleasant that has to be done c: duty, function
2: subjection to adverse criticism: reprimand--used in the expressions to take, call, or bring to task syn task, duty, job, chore, stint, assignment mean a piece of work to be done. task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance "charged with a variety of tasks". duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance "the duties of a lifeguard". job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance "the job of turning the company around". chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm "every child was assigned chores". stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service "a two-month stint as a reporter". assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority "a reporter's assignment".
[2]task vt (15c) 1 obs: to impose a tax on
2: to assign a task to
3: to oppress with great labor "~s his mind with petty details"