Definition of work
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a : to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary
works in publishing
b : to perform or carry through a task requiring sustained effort or continuous repeated operations
worked all day over a hot stove
c : to exert oneself physically or mentally especially in sustained effort for a purpose or under compulsion or necessity
2 : to function or operate according to plan or design
hinges work better with oil
3 : to produce a desired effect or result : succeed a plan that will work
4 : to exert an influence or tendency
5a : to make way slowly and with difficulty : move or progress laboriously
worked up to the presidency
b : to sail to windward
6a : to move slightly in relation to another part
b : to get into a specified condition by slow or imperceptible movements
the knot worked loose
c : to be in agitation or restless motion
d : ferment sense 1
7 : to permit of being worked : react in a specified way to being worked
this wood works easily
1 : to set or keep in motion, operation, or activity : cause to operate or produce
a pump worked by hand work farmland
2 : to bring to pass : effect work miracles
3 : to solve (a problem) by reasoning or calculation
—often used with out
4a : to cause to toil or labor
worked their horses nearly to death
b : to make use of : exploit
c : to control or guide the operation of
switches are worked from a central tower
5a : to carry on an operation or perform a job through, at, in, or along
the peddler worked the corner 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 working the crowd worked the room
6 : to pay for or achieve with labor or service
worked my way through college worked my way up in the company
7a : 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
9a : to get (oneself or an object) into or out of a condition or position by gradual stages
work on work upon
1 : affect worked on my sympathies
2 : to strive to influence or persuade
: to have effect upon : operate on
work
nounDefinition of work (Entry 2 of 3)
1 : activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something:
a : activity that a person engages in regularly to earn a livelihood
people looking for work
b : a specific task, duty, function, or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity
c : sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result
2 : one's place of employment
didn't go to work today
3a : 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
4a : 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
5a works plural : structures in engineering (such as docks, bridges, or embankments) or mining (such as shafts or tunnels)
b : a fortified structure (such as a fort, earthen barricade, or trench)
7 works plural : the working or moving parts of a mechanism
the works of a clock
8 works plural
a : everything possessed, available, or belonging
the whole works, rod, reel, tackle box, went overboard ordered pizza with the works
b : subjection to drastic treatment : all possible abuse
—usually used with get or giveget the worksgave them the works
9a : 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
b : energy expended by natural phenomena
c : the result of such energy
sand dunes are the work of sea and wind
b : manner of working : workmanship, execution
11 works plural : performance of moral or religious acts
salvation by works
12 : the material or piece of material that is operated upon at any stage in the process of manufacture
at work in the works in work out of work
2 : having effect : operating, functioning
: in process of preparation, development, or completion
1 : in process of being done
2 of a horse : in training
: without regular employment : jobless
work
adjectiveDefinition of work (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : suitable or styled for wear while working work clothes
2 : used for work
a work elephant
3 : involving or engaged in work
a work gang work hours
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Time Traveler for work
The first known use of work was before the 12th century
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