WORK | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Old English weorc (noun), wyrcan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch werk and German Werk, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek ergon

activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result

activity involving mental or physical effort

• he was tired after a day's work
• work is still going on in fitting out a new store

a task or tasks to be undertaken

task or tasks to be undertaken

• they made sure the work was progressing smoothly

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

thing or things done or made

• her work hangs in all the main American collections
• the bombing had been the work of a German-based cell

a place or premises in which industrial or manufacturing processes are carried out

place or premises in which industrial or manufacturing processes are carried out

• he found a job in the locomotive works

the operative part of a clock or other machine

operative part of clock or other machine

• she could almost hear the tick of its works

a defensive structure

defensive structure

• just north of the fort were trenches and the freshly reconstructed patriot siege works

the exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change.

exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change

everything needed, desired, or expected

everything needed or expected

• the heavens put on a show: sheet lightning, hailstones, the works

be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a result; do work

be engaged in physical or mental activity

• she has been working so hard
• an engineer who was working on a design for a more efficient wing
• new contracts force employees to work longer hours

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

function

• his phone doesn't work unless he goes to a high point

(of a plan or method) have the desired result or effect

have desired result or effect

• the desperate ploy had worked

bring (a material or mixture) to a desired shape or consistency by hammering, kneading, etc.

bring material or mixture to desired shape or consistency by hammering

• work the mixture into a paste with your hands

move or cause to move gradually or with difficulty into another position

move or cause to move gradually or with difficulty into another position

• comb hair from tip to root, working out the knots at the end
• look for small parts that might work loose

bring into a specified emotional state

bring into specified emotional state

• Harold had worked himself into a minor rage