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
Definition: a place where work is done
Usage: he arrived at work early today
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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