[work] n [ME werk, work, fr. OE werc, weorc; akin to OHG werc, Gk ergon, Av varezem activity] (bef. 12c) 1: activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something: a: sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result b: the labor, task, or duty that is one's accustomed means of livelihood c: a specific task, duty, function, or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity
2. a: energy expended by natural phenomena b: the result of such energy "sand dunes are the ~ of sea and wind" c: the transference of energy that is produced by the motion of the point of application of a force and is measured by multiplying the force and the displacement of its point of application in the line of action 3 a: something that results from a particular manner or method of working, operating, or devising "careful police ~" "clever camera ~" b: something that results from the use or fashioning of a particular material "porcelain ~"
4. a: a fortified structure (as a fort, earthen barricade, or trench) b pl: structures in engineering (as docks, bridges, or embankments) or mining (as shafts or tunnels)
5. pl but sing or pl in constr: a place where industrial labor is carried on: plant, factory
6. pl: the working or moving parts of a mechanism "~s of a clock"
7. a: something produced or accomplished by effort, exertion, or exercise of skill "this book is the ~ of many hands" b: something produced by the exercise of creative talent or expenditure of creative effort: artistic production
8. pl: performance of moral or religious acts "salvation by ~s"
9. a: effective operation: effect, result "wait for time to do its healing ~" b: manner of working: workmanship, execution 10: the material or piece of material that is operated upon at any stage in the process of manufacture 11 pl a: everything possessed, available, or belonging "the whole ~s, rod, reel, tackle box, went overboard" "ordered pizza with the ~s" b: subjection to drastic treatment: all possible abuse--usu. used with get "get the ~s" or give "gave them the ~s" -- at work 1: engaged in working: busy; esp: engaged in one's regular occupation
2: having effect: operating, functioning -- in the works : in process of preparation, development, or completion -- in work 1: in process of being done
2. of a horse: in training -- out of work : without regular employment: jobless syn work, labor, travail, toil, drudgery, grind mean activity involving effort or exertion. work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force "too tired to do any work". labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion "farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor". travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering "years of travail were lost when the house burned". toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor "his lot would be years of back-breaking toil". drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor "an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery". grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body "the grind of the assembly line". syn work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, metier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in esp. in earning one's living. work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not "her work as a hospital volunteer". employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer "your employment with this firm is hereby terminated". occupation implies work in which one engages regularly esp. as a result of training "his occupation as a trained auto mechanic". calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession "the ministry seemed my true calling". pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest "her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit". metier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be esp. fitted "acting was my one and only metier". business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs "the business of managing a hotel".
[2]work adj (14c) 1: used for work "~ elephant"
2: suitable or styled for wear while working "~ clothes"
3: involving or engaged in work "~ gang" "~ hours" [3]work vb worked or wrought ; work.ing [ME werken, worken, fr. OE wyrcan; akin to OE weorc] vt (bef. 12c) 1: to bring to pass: effect "~ miracles"
2. a: to fashion or create a useful or desired product by expending labor or exertion on: forge, shape "~ flint into tools" b: to make or decorate with needlework ; esp: embroider 3 a: to prepare for use by stirring or kneading b: to bring into a desired form by a gradual process of cutting, hammering, scraping, pressing, or stretching "~ cold steel"
4: to set or keep in motion, operation, or activity: cause to operate or produce "a pump ~ed by hand" "~ farmland"
5: to solve (a problem) by reasoning or calculation--often used with out
6. a: to cause to toil or labor "~ed their horses nearly to death" b: to make use of: exploit c: to control or guide the operation of "switches are ~ed from a central tower"
7. a: to carry on an operation or perform a job through, at, in, or along "the salespeople ~ed both sides of the street" "a sportscaster hired to ~ the game" b: to greet and talk with in a friendly way in order to ingratiate oneself or achieve a purpose "politicians ~ing the crowd" "~ed the room" 8: to pay for or achieve with labor or service "~ed my way through college" "~ed my way up in the company"
9. a: to get (oneself or an object) into or out of a condition or position by gradual stages b: contrive, arrange "we can ~ it so that you can take your vacation"
10. a: to practice trickery or cajolery on for some end "~ed the management for a free ticket" b: excite, provoke "~ed myself into a rage" ~ vi 1 a: to exert oneself physically or mentally esp. in sustained effort for a purpose or under compulsion or necessity b: to perform or carry through a task requiring sustained effort or continuous repeated operations "~ed all day over a hot stove" c: to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary
2: to function or operate according to plan or design "hinges ~ better with oil"
3: to exert an influence or tendency
4: to produce a desired effect or result: succeed
5. a: to make way slowly and with difficulty: move or progress laboriously "~ed up to the presidency" b: to sail to windward
6: to permit of being worked: react in a specified way to being worked "this wood ~s easily"
7. a: to be in agitation or restless motion b: ferment 1 c: to move slightly in relation to another part d: to get into a specified condition by slow or imperceptible movements "the knot ~ed loose" -- work on 1: affect "worked on my sympathies"
2: to strive to influence or persuade -- work upon : to have effect upon: operate on: influence