work
work /ˈwɝːk/
noun
-
(
)
Activity directed toward making or doing something
(
work
)
activity directed toward making or doing something
She checked several points needing further work
she checked several points needing further work
-
()
A product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing
(
piece of work
, work
)
a product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing
It is not regarded as one of his more memorable works
it is not regarded as one of his more memorable works
The symphony was hailed as an ingenious work
the symphony was hailed as an ingenious work
He was indebted to the pioneering work of John Dewey
he was indebted to the pioneering work of John Dewey
The work of an active imagination
the work of an active imagination
Erosion is the work of wind or water over time
erosion is the work of wind or water over time
-
()
The occupation for which you are paid
(
employment
, work
)
the occupation for which you are paid
He is looking for employment
he is looking for employment
A lot of people are out of work
a lot of people are out of work
-
()
Applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)
(
work
, study
)
applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)
Mastering a second language requires a lot of work
mastering a second language requires a lot of work
No schools offer graduate study in interior design
no schools offer graduate study in interior design
-
()
(physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force
(
work
)
(physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force
Work equals force times distance
work equals force times distance
-
()
A place where work is done
(
workplace
, work
)
a place where work is done
He arrived at work early today
he arrived at work early today
-
The total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)
(
body of work
, oeuvre
, work
)
the total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)
He studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
he studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
Picasso's work can be divided into periods
Picasso's work can be divided into periods
verb
-
()
Exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
(
work
)
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
I will work hard to improve my grades
I will work hard to improve my grades
She worked hard for better living conditions for the poor
she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor
-
()
Be employed
(
do work
, work
)
be employed
Is your husband working again?
Is your husband working again?
My wife never worked
My wife never worked
Do you want to work after the age of 60?
Do you want to work after the age of 60?
She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money
She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money
She works as a waitress to put herself through college
She works as a waitress to put herself through college
-
()
Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected
(
act
, work
)
have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected
The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
How does your idea work in practice?
How does your idea work in practice?
This method doesn't work
This method doesn't work
The breaks of my new car act quickly
The breaks of my new car act quickly
The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water
The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water
-
()
Perform as expected when applied
(
go
, run
, function
, operate
, work
)
perform as expected when applied
The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in
The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in
Does this old car still run well?
Does this old car still run well?
This old radio doesn't work anymore
This old radio doesn't work anymore
-
()
Give a workout to
(
work out
, exercise
, work
)
give a workout to
Some parents exercise their infants
Some parents exercise their infants
My personal trainer works me hard
My personal trainer works me hard
Work one's muscles
work one's muscles
This puzzle will exercise your mind
this puzzle will exercise your mind
-
()
Shape, form, or improve a material
(
process
, work on
, work
)
shape, form, or improve a material
Work stone into tools
work stone into tools
Process iron
process iron
Work the metal
work the metal
-
()
Proceed along a path
(
make
, work
)
proceed along a path
Work one's way through the crowd
work one's way through the crowd
Make one's way into the forest
make one's way into the forest
-
()
Operate in a certain place, area, or specialty
(
work
)
operate in a certain place, area, or specialty
She works the night clubs
She works the night clubs
The salesman works the Midwest
The salesman works the Midwest
This artist works mostly in acrylics
This artist works mostly in acrylics
-
()
Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
(
play
, wreak
, work
, bring
, make for
)
cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
I cannot work a miracle
I cannot work a miracle
Wreak havoc
wreak havoc
Bring comments
bring comments
Play a joke
play a joke
The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
-
()
Move in an agitated manner
(
work
)
move in an agitated manner
His fingers worked with tension
His fingers worked with tension
-
()
Proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity
(
work
)
proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity
Work your way through every problem or task
work your way through every problem or task
She was working on her second martini when the guests arrived
She was working on her second martini when the guests arrived
Start from the bottom and work towards the top
Start from the bottom and work towards the top
-
()
(farming) prepare for crops
(
crop
, cultivate
, work
)
(farming) prepare for crops
Work the soil
Work the soil
Cultivate the land
cultivate the land
-
()
Cause to work
(
put to work
, work
)
cause to work
He is working his servants hard
he is working his servants hard
-
Arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion
(
work
)
arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion
The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times
The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times
-
Go sour or spoil
(
ferment
, turn
, work
, sour
)
go sour or spoil
The milk has soured
The milk has soured
The wine worked
The wine worked
The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
-
Cause to undergo fermentation
(
ferment
, work
)
cause to undergo fermentation
We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content
We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content
The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
-
Find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
(
work
, work out
, suss
[Informal, British] , figure out
, lick
[Informal, N. American] , puzzle out
, solve
, unriddle
)
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
Did you solve the problem?
did you solve the problem?
Work out your problems with the boss
Work out your problems with the boss
This unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
Did you get it?
did you get it?
Did you get my meaning?
Did you get my meaning?
He could not work the math problem
He could not work the math problem
-
Use or manipulate to one's advantage
(
work
, exploit
)
use or manipulate to one's advantage
He exploit the new taxation system
He exploit the new taxation system
She knows how to work the system
She knows how to work the system
He works his parents for sympathy
he works his parents for sympathy
-
Make uniform
(
work
, knead
)
make uniform
Knead dough
knead dough
Work the clay until it is soft
work the clay until it is soft
-
Move into or onto
(
work
)
move into or onto
Work the raisins into the dough
work the raisins into the dough
The student worked a few jokes into his presentation
the student worked a few jokes into his presentation
Work the body onto the flatbed truck
work the body onto the flatbed truck
-
Make something, usually for a specific function
(
forge
, mold
[ N. American] , mould
, form
, shape
, work
)
make something, usually for a specific function
She molded the rice balls carefully
She molded the rice balls carefully
Form cylinders from the dough
Form cylinders from the dough
Shape a figure
shape a figure
Work the metal into a sword
Work the metal into a sword
-
Gratify and charm, usually in order to influence
(
work
)
gratify and charm, usually in order to influence
The political candidate worked the crowds
the political candidate worked the crowds
-
Provoke or excite
(
work
)
provoke or excite
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy
-
Cause to operate or function
(
work
)
cause to operate or function
This pilot works the controls
This pilot works the controls
Can you work an electric drill?
Can you work an electric drill?
-
Operate in or through
(
work
)
operate in or through
Work the phones
Work the phones
-
Have and exert influence or effect
(
act upon
, work
, influence
)
have and exert influence or effect
The artist's work influenced the young painter
The artist's work influenced the young painter
She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
-
Behave in a certain way when handled
(
work
)
behave in a certain way when handled
This dough does not work easily
This dough does not work easily
The soft metal works well
The soft metal works well
