/ ˈwɜːkɪŋ; NAmE ˈwɜːrk-/ adjective , noun
■ adjective [ only before noun ]
1.
having a job for which you are paid
SYN employed :
the working population
a working mother
—see also hard-working
2.
having a job that involves hard physical work rather than office work, studying, etc. :
a working man
a working men's club
3.
connected with your job and the time you spend doing it :
long working hours
poor working conditions
I have a good working relationship with my boss.
She spent most of her working life as a teacher.
recent changes in working practices
4.
a working breakfast or lunch is one at which you discuss business
5.
used as a basis for work, discussion, etc. but likely to be changed or improved in the future :
a working theory
Have you decided on a working title for your thesis yet?
6.
if you have a working knowledge of sth, you can use it at a basic level
7.
the working parts of a machine are the parts that move in order to make it function
8.
a working majority is a small majority that is enough to enable a government to win votes in parliament and make new laws
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IDIOMS
see order noun
■ noun [ usually pl. ]
1.
working (of sth) the way in which a machine, a system, an organization, etc. works :
an introduction to the workings of Congress
the workings of the human mind
the machine's inner workings
2.
the parts of a mine or quarry where coal, metal, stone, etc. is or has been dug from the ground