I. ˈwərk noun
Etymology: Middle English werk, work, from Old English werc, weorc; akin to Old High German werc work, Greek ergon, Avestan varəzem activity
Date: before 12th century
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 work 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 work
clever camera work
b. : something that results from the use or fashioning of a particular material
porcelain work
4.
a. : a fortified structure (as a fort, earthen barricade, or trench)
b. plural : structures in engineering (as docks, bridges, or embankments) or mining (as shafts or tunnels)
5. plural but singular or plural in construction : a place where industrial labor is carried on : plant , factory
6. plural : the working or moving parts of a mechanism
the work s of a clock
7.
a. : something produced or accomplished by effort, exertion, or exercise of skill
this book is the work of many hands
b. : something produced by the exercise of creative talent or expenditure of creative effort : artistic production
an early work by a major writer
8. plural : performance of moral or religious acts
salvation by work s
9.
a. : effective operation : effect , result
wait for time to do its healing work
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. plural
a. : everything possessed, available, or belonging
the whole work s, rod, reel, tackle box, went overboard
ordered pizza with the work s
b. : subjection to drastic treatment : all possible abuse — usually used with get
get the work s
or give
gave them the work s
•
- at work
- in the works
- in work
- out of work
Synonyms:
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
Synonyms:
work , employment , occupation , calling , pursuit , métier , business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially 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 especially 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
métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted
acting was my one and only métier
business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs
the business of managing a hotel
II. adjective
Date: 14th century
1. : used for work
a work elephant
2. : suitable or styled for wear while working
work clothes
3. : involving or engaged in work
a work gang
work hours
III. verb
( worked ˈwərkt ; or wrought ˈrȯt ; work·ing )
Etymology: Middle English werken, worken, from Old English wyrcan; akin to Old English weorc
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1. : to bring to pass : effect
work miracles
2.
a. : to fashion or create a useful or desired product by expending labor or exertion on : forge , shape
work flint into tools
b. : to make or decorate with needlework ; especially : 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
work cold steel
4. : to set or keep in motion, operation, or activity : cause to operate or produce
a pump work ed by hand
work farmland
5. : to solve (a problem) by reasoning or calculation — often used with out
6.
a. : to cause to toil or labor
work ed their horses nearly to death
b. : to make use of : exploit
c. : to control or guide the operation of
switches are work ed from a central tower
7.
a. : to carry on an operation or perform a job through, at, in, or along
the salespeople work ed both sides of the street
a sportscaster hired to work the game
b. : to greet and talk with in a friendly way in order to ingratiate oneself or achieve a purpose
politicians work ing the crowd
work ed the room
8. : to pay for or achieve with labor or service
work ed my way through college
work 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 work it so that you can take your vacation
10.
a. : to practice trickery or cajolery on for some end
work ed the management for a free ticket
b. : excite , provoke
work ed myself into a rage
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to exert oneself physically or mentally especially 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
work ed all day over a hot stove
c. : to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary
work s in publishing
2. : to function or operate according to plan or design
hinges work better with oil
3. : to exert an influence or tendency
4. : to produce a desired effect or result : succeed
a plan that will work
5.
a. : to make way slowly and with difficulty : move or progress laboriously
work 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 work 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 work ed loose
•
- work on
- work upon