I. ˈtask noun
Etymology: Middle English taske, from Middle French dialect (Picardy, Flanders) tasque, from Medieval Latin tasca tax or service imposed by a feudal superior, alteration of * taxa, from taxare to tax
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a usually assigned piece of work often to be finished within a certain 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
Synonyms:
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 2-month stint as a reporter
assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority
a reporter's assignment
II. transitive verb
Date: 14th century
1. : to assign a task to
employees task ed with updating the files
2. obsolete : to impose a tax on
3. : to oppress with great labor
task s his mind with petty details