work

/wˈɝk/ · 1 syllable

Meaning

verb

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
“I will work hard to improve my grades”
be employed
“Is your husband working again?”
have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected
“The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought”
perform as expected when applied
“The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in”
shape, form, or improve a material
“work stone into tools”
give a workout to
“Some parents exercise their infants”
proceed along a path
“work one's way through the crowd”
operate in a certain place, area, or specialty
“She works the night clubs”
proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity
“work your way through every problem or task”
move in an agitated manner
“His fingers worked with tension”
cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
“I cannot work a miracle”
cause to work
“he is working his servants hard”

noun

activity directed toward making or doing something
“she checked several points needing further 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”
the occupation for which you are paid
“he is looking for employment”
applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)
“mastering a second language requires a lot of 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”
a place where work is done
“he arrived at work early today”
the total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)
“he studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre”

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