Definitions for work

Definitions for (noun) work

Main entry: work

Definition: activity directed toward making or doing something

Usage: she checked several points needing further work


Main entry: work, employment

Definition: the occupation for which you are paid

Usage: he is looking for employment; a lot of people are out of work


Main entry: oeuvre, body of work, work

Definition: the total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)

Usage: he studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre; Picasso's work can be divided into periods


Main entry: work, piece of work

Definition: a product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing

Usage: 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


Main entry: work, workplace

Definition: a place where work is done

Usage: he arrived at work early today


Main entry: work, study

Definition: applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)

Usage: mastering a second language requires a lot of work; no schools offer graduate study in interior design


Main entry: work

Definition: (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

Usage: work equals force times distance


Definitions for (verb) work

Main entry: exercise, work, work out

Definition: give a workout to

Usage: Some parents exercise their infants; My personal trainer works me hard; work one's muscles; this puzzle will exercise your mind


Main entry: work

Definition: arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion

Usage: The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times


Main entry: ferment, work, sour, turn

Definition: go sour or spoil

Usage: The milk has soured; The wine worked; The cream has turned--we have to throw it out


Main entry: ferment, work

Definition: cause to undergo fermentation

Usage: We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content; The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats


Main entry: puzzle out, figure out, lick, work, work out, solve

Definition: find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of

Usage: 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


Main entry: work, exploit

Definition: use or manipulate to one's advantage

Usage: He exploit the new taxation system; She knows how to work the system; he works his parents for sympathy


Main entry: knead, work

Definition: make uniform

Usage: knead dough; work the clay until it is soft


Main entry: operate, run, work, go, function

Definition: perform as expected when applied

Usage: 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


Main entry: work

Definition: move into or onto

Usage: work the raisins into the dough; the student worked a few jokes into his presentation; work the body onto the flatbed truck


Main entry: work, wreak, make for, play, bring

Definition: cause to happen or to occur as a consequence

Usage: I cannot work a miracle; wreak havoc; bring comments; play a joke; The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area


Main entry: forge, form, mold, mould, shape, work

Definition: make something, usually for a specific function

Usage: She molded the rice balls carefully; Form cylinders from the dough; shape a figure; Work the metal into a sword


Main entry: process, work, work on

Definition: shape, form, or improve a material

Usage: work stone into tools; process iron; work the metal


Main entry: work, cultivate, crop

Definition: prepare for crops

Usage: Work the soil; cultivate the land


Main entry: work

Definition: gratify and charm, usually in order to influence

Usage: the political candidate worked the crowds


Main entry: work

Definition: move in an agitated manner

Usage: His fingers worked with tension


Main entry: make, work

Definition: proceed along a path

Usage: work one's way through the crowd; make one's way into the forest


Main entry: work

Definition: provoke or excite

Usage: The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy


Main entry: work

Definition: proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity

Usage: 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


Main entry: put to work, work

Definition: cause to work

Usage: he is working his servants hard


Main entry: do work, work

Definition: be employed

Usage: 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


Main entry: work

Definition: exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

Usage: I will work hard to improve my grades; she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor


Main entry: work

Definition: cause to operate or function

Usage: This pilot works the controls; Can you work an electric drill?


Main entry: work

Definition: operate in or through

Usage: Work the phones


Main entry: work, act

Definition: have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected

Usage: 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


Main entry: act upon, work, influence

Definition: have and exert influence or effect

Usage: The artist's work influenced the young painter; She worked on her friends to support the political candidate


Main entry: work

Definition: operate in a certain place, area, or specialty

Usage: She works the night clubs; The salesman works the Midwest; This artist works mostly in acrylics


Main entry: work

Definition: behave in a certain way when handled

Usage: This dough does not work easily; The soft metal works well


Visual thesaurus for work