Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something: Cleaning the basement was a lot of work. Such effort or activity by which one makes a living; employment: looking for work. A trade, profession, or other means of livelihood: His work is fixing cars.
The part of a day devoted to an occupation or undertaking: met her after work. One's place of employment: Should I call you at home or at work?
Something that one is doing, making, or performing, especially as an occupation or undertaking; a duty or task: begin the day's work. An amount of such activity either done or required: a week's work. The action or effect of an agency: The antibiotic seems to be doing its work.
Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing: This scheme was the work of a criminal mastermind. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time. An act; a deed:"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity"(Ecclesiastes 1:14). An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition, or a creative result of other human activity: an early work of Matisse; a scholarly work of great importance. The output of a writer, artist, or composer considered or collected as a whole: the works of Bach.
Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams. A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.
Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art. A piece of such textile art.
A material or piece of material being processed in a machine during manufacture: work to be turned in the lathe.
(used with a sing. or pl. verb) A factory, plant, or similar building or complex of buildings where a specific type of business or industry is carried on. Often used in combination: a steelworks.
Internal mechanism: the works of a watch.
The manner, style, or quality of working or treatment; workmanship.
Abbr. Physics The transfer of energy from one physical system to another, especially the application of a force to move a body in a certain direction. It is calculated as the product of the force and the distance over which it is applied and is expressed in joules, ergs, and foot-pounds.
Moral or righteous acts or deeds: salvation by faith rather than works.
Informal The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the: ordered a pizza with the works. Slang A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the: took him outside and gave him the works.
To exert oneself physically or mentally in order to do, make, or accomplish something.
To be employed; have a job.
To function; operate: How does this latch work? To function or operate in the desired or required way: The telephone hasn't worked since the thunderstorm.
To have a given effect or outcome: Our friendship works best when we speak our minds. To have the desired effect or outcome; prove successful: This recipe seems to work.
To exert an influence. Used with on or upon: worked on her to join the group.
To arrive at a specified condition through gradual or repeated movement: The stitches worked loose.
To proceed or progress slowly and laboriously: worked through the underbrush; worked through my problems in therapy.
To move in an agitated manner, as with emotion: Her mouth worked with fear.
To behave in a specified way when handled or processed: Not all metals work easily.
To ferment.
Nautical To strain in heavy seas so that the joints give slightly and the fastenings become slack. Used of a boat or ship. To sail against the wind.
To undergo small motions that result in friction and wear: The gears work against each other.