wə:k n. & v. --n. 1
the application of
mental or
physical effort to a
purpose; the
use of
energy. 2 a a
task to be undertaken. b the materials
for this. c (prec. by the; foll. by of) a task occupying (no
more than) a specified
time (the work of a moment). 3 a
thing done or
made by work; the
result of an
action; an
achievement; a thing made. 4 a person's
employment or
occupation etc.,
esp. as a
means of earning
income (looked for work; is
out of work). 5 a a
literary or
musical composition. b (in pl.)
all such by an
author or
composer etc. 6 actions or experiences of a specified kind (good work!; this is
thirsty work). 7 a (in comb.) things or parts made of a specified
material or
with specified tools etc. (ironwork; needlework). b
archaic needlework. 8 (in pl.) the
operative part of a clock or
machine. 9
Physics the exertion of force overcoming
resistance or producing
molecular change (convert
heat into work). 10 (in pl.) colloq. all
that is
available;
everything needed. 11 (in pl.) operations of
building or repair (road works). 12 (in
pl.;
often treated as sing.) a
place where manufacture is carried
on. 13 (usu. in pl.) Theol. a
meritorious act. 14 (usu. in pl. or in comb.) a
defensive structure (earthworks). 15 (in comb.) a ornamentation of a specified kind (poker-work). b articles having this. --v. (past
and past part. worked or (esp. as adj.) wrought) 1 intr. (often foll. by
at, on) do work; be
engaged in
bodily or mental
activity. 2 intr. a be employed in
certain work (works in
industry; works as a secretary). b (foll. by with) be the
workmate of (a person). 3 intr. (often foll. by for)
make efforts;
conduct a
campaign (works for peace). 4 intr. (foll. by in) be a
craftsman (in a material). 5 intr.
operate or
function, esp. effectively (how
does this machine work?;
your idea will
not work). 6 intr. (of a part of a machine)
run,
revolve; go
through regular motions. 7 tr.
carry on,
manage, or
control (cannot work the machine). 8 tr. a put or
keep in
operation or at work;
cause to
toil (this mine is no longer worked; works the staff
very hard). b
cultivate (land). 9 tr.
bring about;
produce as a result (worked miracles). 10 tr.
knead,
hammer; bring to a desired
shape or
consistency. 11 tr. do, or make
by, needlework etc. 12 tr. & intr. (cause to)
progress or
penetrate, or make (one's way), gradually or with
difficulty in a specified
way (worked
our way through the
crowd; worked the
peg into the hole). 13 intr. (foll. by
loose etc.) gradually
become (loose etc.) by
constant movement. 14 tr. artificially
excite (worked
themselves into a rage). 15 tr.
solve (a sum) by
mathematics. 16 tr. a
purchase with one's
labour instead of
money (work one's passage). b
obtain by labour the money for (one's way through
university etc.). 17 intr. (foll. by on, upon)
have influence. 18 intr. be in
motion or agitated; cause
agitation,
ferment (his features worked violently; the
yeast began to work). 19 intr. Naut.
sail against the wind. øat work in action or engaged in work.
give a
person the works 1 colloq. give or tell a person everything. 2 colloq.
treat a person harshly. 3 sl.
kill a person. have one's work
cut out be faced with a
hard task. set to work
begin or cause to begin operations. work
away (or on)
continue to work. work-basket (or -bag etc.) a
basket or
bag etc. containing
sewing materials. work camp a camp at
which community work is done esp. by
young volunteers. work one's fingers to the
bone see BONE. work in
find a place for. work it colloq. bring it about;
achieve a desired result. work of art a fine
picture,
poem, or building etc. work
off get rid of by work or activity. work out 1 solve (a sum) or find out (an amount) by
calculation. 2 (foll. by at) be
calculated (the
total works out at 230). 3 give a
definite result (this
sum will not work out). 4 have a specified result (the
plan worked out well). 5
provide for the details of (has worked out a scheme). 6
accomplish or
attain with difficulty (work out one's salvation). 7
exhaust with work (the mine is worked out). 8
engage in physical
exercise or
training. work
over 1
examine thoroughly. 2 colloq. treat with
violence. works
council esp.
Brit. a
group of employees representing
those employed in a works etc. in discussions with
their employers. work-shy disinclined to work. works of
supererogation see SUPEREROGATION. work
study a
system of assessing methods of
working so as to achieve the
maximum output and
efficiency. work
table a table for working at, esp. with a
sewing-machine. work to
rule (esp. as a
form of
industrial action)
follow official working rules
exactly in
order to
reduce output and efficiency. work-to-rule the act or an
instance of working to rule. work up 1 bring gradually to an
efficient state. 2 (foll. by to)
advance gradually to a
climax. 3
elaborate or excite by degrees. 4
mingle (ingredients) into a
whole. 5
learn (a subject) by study. work one's will (foll. by on, upon) archaic accomplish one's purpose on (a person or thing). work wonders see
WONDER. øøworkless adj. [OE weorc etc. f. Gmc]