work
1. work \'w*rk\ n [ME werk, work, fr. OE werc, weorc; akin to OHG werc], Gk
ergon 1: activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or
perform some thing : 1a: sustained physical or mental effort to overcome
obstacles and achieve a n objective or result 1b: the labor, task, or duty
that affords one his accustomed means of livel ihood 1c: a specific task,
duty, function, or assignment often being a part or ph ase of some larger
activity 2a: energy expended by natural phenomena 2b: the result of such
energy {sand dunes are the ~ of sea and wind } 2c: 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 3a: something that results from
a particular manner or method of working, o perating, or devising {careful
police ~} {clever camera ~} 3b: something that results from the use or
fashioning of a particular mater ial {porcelain ~} 4a: a fortified
structure (as a fort, earthen barricade, or trench) pl 4b: structures in
engineering (as docks, bridges, or embankments) or mining (as shafts or
tunnels) pl but sing or pl in constr 5: a place where industrial labor is
carried on : PLANT, FACTORY pl 6: the working or moving parts of a
mechanism {~s of a clock)> 7: froth or foam caused by fermentation 8a:
something produced or accomplished by effort, exertion, or exercise of
skill {this book is the ~ of many hands} 8b: something produced by the
exercise of creative talent or expenditure of creative effort : artistic
production pl 9: performance of moral or religious acts {salvation by ~s}
10a: effective operation : EFFECT, RESULT {wait for time to do its healing
~} 10b: manner of working : WORKMANSHIP, EXECUTION 11a: the material or
piece of material that is operated upon at any stage i n the process of
manufacture 11b: ore before it is dressed pl 12a: everything possessed,
available, or belonging {the whole ~s , rod, reel, tackle box, went
overboard} 12b: subjection to drastic treatment : all possible abuse
including murde r - usu. used with get {get the ~s} or give {gave him the
~s}GRIND mean activity involving effort or exertion. WORK may imply
activity of body, of mind, or of a machine or it may apply to the effort or
to what is produced by the effort; LABOR applies to physical or
intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion; TRAVAIL is
bookish for labor involving pain or suffering; TOIL implies prolonged and
fatiguing labor; DRUDGERY suggests dull and irksome labor; GRIND implies
labor exhausting to mind or bodyRSUIT, ME`TIER, BUSINESS mean a specific
sustained activity engaged in esp. in earning one's living; WORK may apply
to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not; EMPLOYMENT stresses
activity that fills one's time; OCCUPATION implies work in which one
engages regularly esp. as a result of training; CALLING applies to an
occupation viewed esp. in relation to the one engaged in it; PURSUIT
suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady
interest; ME`TIER implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes
oneself to be especially fitted; BUSINESS suggests activity in commerce or
the management of money and affairs rather than in directly productive or
effective work 1: engaged in working : BUSY; esp : engaged in one's regula
r occupation 2: having effect : OPERATING, FUNCTIONING 1: in process of
being done of a horse 2: in training : without regular employment :
JOBLESS - at work SYN syn WORK, LABOR, TRAVAIL, TOIL, DRUDGERY, SYN syn
WORK, EMPLOYMENT, OCCUPATION, CALLING, PU
2. work av 1: suitable or styled for wear while working {~ clothes} 2:
used for work {~ elephant}
3. work \'w*rkt\ \'ro.t\ vb or worked or wrought; or work.ing [ME werken,
worken, fr. OE wyrcan; akin to OE weorc] 1: to bring to pass : EFFECT 2a:
to fashion or create by expending labor or exertion upon : FORGE)M, SHAPE
{~ flint into tools} 2b: to make or decorate with needlework; esp :
EMBROIDER 3a: to prepare for use by stirring or kneading 3b: to bring
into a desired form by a gradual process of cutting, hammerin g, scraping,
pressing, or stretching {~ cold steel} 4: to set or keep in motion,
operation, or activity : cause to operate o r produce {a pump ~ed by hand}
{~ farmland} 5: to solve (a problem) by reasoning or calculation 6a: to
cause to toil or labor : get work out of 6b: to make use of : EXPLOIT 6c:
to control or guide the operation of {switches are ~ed f rom a central
tower} 7: to carry on an operation through or in or along {fisherman ~ ed
the stream from the bridge down to the pool} 8: to pay for with labor or
service {~ off a debt} 9a: to get (oneself or an object) into or out of a
condition or position b y gradual stages 9b: CONTRIVE, ARRANGE {we can ~ it
so that you can tak e your vacation} 10a: to practice trickery or cajolery
on for some end {~ed t he management for a free ticket} 10b: EXCITE,
PROVOKE {~ed himself into a rage} 1a: to exert oneself physically or
mentally esp. in sustained effort for a purpose or under compulsion or
necessity 1b: to perform or carry through a task requiring sustained effort
or conti nuous repeated operations 1c: to perform work or fulfill duties
regularly for wages or salary 2: to function or operate according to plan
or design {hinges ~ be tter with oil} 3: to exert an influence or tendency
4: to produce a desired effect or result : SUCCEED 5a: to make way slowly
and with difficulty : move or progress laboriousl y 5b: to sail to windward
6: to permit of being worked : react in a specified way to being worked
{this wood ~s easily} 7a: to be in agitation or restless motion 7b:
FERMENT 7c: to move slightly in relation to another part 7d: to get into
a specified condition by slow or imperceptible movements <(the knot ~ed
loose} 1: AFFECT {worked on his sympathies} 2: to strive to influence or
persuade : to have effect upon : operate on : PERSUADE, INFLUENCE - work
on
Webster's English Dictionary