Meaning & Definition of Work in English

1. Activity directed toward making or doing something

• "She checked several points needing further work"

2. 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"

• "The symphony was hailed as an ingenious work"

• "He was indebted to the pioneering work of john dewey"

• "The work of an active imagination"

• "Erosion is the work of wind or water over time"

3. The occupation for which you are paid

• "He is looking for employment"

• "A lot of people are out of work"

4. Applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)

• "Mastering a second language requires a lot of work"

• "No schools offer graduate study in interior design"

5. (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"

6. A place where work is done

• "He arrived at work early today"

7. The total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)

• "He studied the entire wagnerian oeuvre"

• "Picasso's work can be divided into periods"

1. Exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

• "I will work hard to improve my grades"

• "She worked hard for better living conditions for the poor"

2. Be employed

• "Is your husband working again?"

• "My wife never worked"

• "Do you want to work after the age of 60?"

• "She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money"

• "She works as a waitress to put herself through college"

3. Have an effect or outcome

• Often the one desired or expected

• "The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought"

• "How does your idea work in practice?"

• "This method doesn't work"

• "The breaks of my new car act quickly"

• "The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water"

4. Perform as expected when applied

• "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"

• "Does this old car still run well?"

• "This old radio doesn't work anymore"

5. Shape, form, or improve a material

• "Work stone into tools"

• "Process iron"

• "Work the metal"

6. Give a workout to

• "Some parents exercise their infants"

• "My personal trainer works me hard"

• "Work one's muscles"

• "This puzzle will exercise your mind"

7. Proceed along a path

• "Work one's way through the crowd"

• "Make one's way into the forest"

8. Operate in a certain place, area, or specialty

• "She works the night clubs"

• "The salesman works the midwest"

• "This artist works mostly in acrylics"

9. Proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity

• "Work your way through every problem or task"

• "She was working on her second martini when the guests arrived"

• "Start from the bottom and work towards the top"

10. Move in an agitated manner

• "His fingers worked with tension"

11. Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence

• "I cannot work a miracle"

• "Wreak havoc"

• "Bring comments"

• "Play a joke"

• "The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area"

12. Cause to work

• "He is working his servants hard"

13. Prepare for crops

• "Work the soil"

• "Cultivate the land"

14. Behave in a certain way when handled

• "This dough does not work easily"

• "The soft metal works well"

15. Have and exert influence or effect

• "The artist's work influenced the young painter"

• "She worked on her friends to support the political candidate"

16. Operate in or through

• "Work the phones"

17. Cause to operate or function

• "This pilot works the controls"

• "Can you work an electric drill?"

18. Provoke or excite

• "The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy"

19. Gratify and charm, usually in order to influence

• "The political candidate worked the crowds"

20. Make something, usually for a specific function

• "She molded the rice balls carefully"

• "Form cylinders from the dough"

• "Shape a figure"

• "Work the metal into a sword"

21. Move into or onto

• "Work the raisins into the dough"

• "The student worked a few jokes into his presentation"

• "Work the body onto the flatbed truck"

22. Make uniform

• "Knead dough"

• "Work the clay until it is soft"

23. Use or manipulate to one's advantage

• "He exploit the new taxation system"

• "She knows how to work the system"

• "He works his parents for sympathy"

24. Find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of

• "Did you solve the problem?"

• "Work out your problems with the boss"

• "This unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"

• "Did you get it?"

• "Did you get my meaning?"

• "He could not work the math problem"

25. Cause to undergo fermentation

• "We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content"

• "The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats"

26. Go sour or spoil

• "The milk has soured"

• "The wine worked"

• "The cream has turned--we have to throw it out"

27. Arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion

• "The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times"