work

noun

1》 activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a result.

2》 such activity as a means of earning income.

    ↘W. Indian a job.

3》 a task or tasks to be undertaken.

    ↘the materials for this.

    ↘(works) chiefly Brit. activity involving construction or repair.

    ↘(works) Theology good or moral deeds.

4》 a thing or things done or made; the result of an action.

    ↘(works) the complete artistic production of a particular author, composer, or artist.

5》 (works) [treated as sing.] chiefly Brit. a place where industrial or manufacturing processes are carried out.

6》 (usu. works) Military a defensive structure.

7》 (works) the mechanism of a clock or other machine.

8》 Physics the exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change.

9》 (the works) informal everything needed, desired, or expected.

verb (past and past participle worked or archaic wrought)

1》 do work, especially as one's job.

    ↘have a job.

    ↘set to or keep at work.

2》 (of a machine or system) function, especially properly or effectively.

    ↘(with reference to a machine) be or cause to be in operation.

3》 have the desired result.

    ↘bring about.

    ↘campaign.

    ↘(work on/upon) exert influence on.

4》 bring (a material or mixture) to a desired shape or consistency.

    ↘(work in) produce articles or pictures using (a particular material or medium).

    ↘produce (an article or design) using a specified material or sewing stitch.

    ↘cultivate (land) or extract materials from (a mine or quarry).

5》 move gradually or with difficulty into another position.

    ↘(of a person's features) move violently or convulsively.

6》 bring into a specified emotional state: Harold had worked himself into a rage.

7》 Sailing make progress to windward, with repeated tacking.

Phrases

give someone the works informal

1》 tell someone everything.

2》 treat someone harshly or violently.

have one's work cut out be faced with a hard or lengthy task.

in the works being planned, worked on, or produced.

work to rule chiefly Brit. follow official working rules and hours exactly in order to reduce output and efficiency, especially as a form of industrial action.

work one's passage see passage.

Phrasal verbs

work something in try to include something.

work something off

1》 discharge a debt by working.

2》 reduce or eliminate something by activity.

work out

1》 be capable of being solved.

2》 develop in a good or specified way.

3》 engage in vigorous physical exercise.

work out at be calculated at.

work someone out understand someone's character.

work something out

1》 solve something.

2》 plan something in detail.

work someone over informal beat someone up.

work up to proceed gradually towards (something more advanced).

work someone up (often get worked up) gradually bring someone, especially oneself, to a state of intense excitement, anger, or anxiety.

work something up

1》 develop or improve something gradually.

2》 develop by activity or effort.

Derivatives

workless adjective

Origin

OE weorc (n.), wyrcan (v.), of Gmc origin.