The Wordsmith Dictionary

Work, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Worked, or Wrought (; p. pr. & vb. n.Working. ] Etym: [AS. wyrcean (imp. worthe, wrohte, p. p. geworht, gewroht ); akin to OFries. werka, wirka, OS. wirkian, D. werken, G. wirken, Icel. verka, yrkja, orka, Goth. waúrkjan. *145. See Work, n.]

1. To exert one's self for a purpose; to put forth effort for the attainment of an object; to labor; to be engaged in the performance of a task, a duty, or the like. O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work, To match thy goodness Shak. Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you. Ex. v. 18. Whether we work or play, or sleep or wake, Our life doth pass. Sir J.Davies.

2. Hence, in a general sense, to operate; to act; to perform; as, a machine works well. We bend to that the working of the heart. Shak.

3. Hence, figuratively, to be effective; to have effect or influence; to conduce. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God. Rom. viii. 28.This so wrought upon the child, that afterwards he desired to be taught. Locke. She marveled how she could ever have been wrought upon to marry him. Hawthorne.

4. To carry on business; to be engaged or employed customarily; to perform the part of a laborer; to labor; to toil. They that work in fine flax. .. shall be confounded. Isa. xix. 9.

5. To be in a state of severe exertion, or as if in such a state; to be tossed or agitated; to move heavily; to strain; to labor; as, a ship works in a heavy sea. Confused with working sands and rolling waves. Addison.

6. To make one's way slowly and with difficulty; to move or penetrate laboriously; to proceed with effort; -- with a following preposition, as down, out, into, up, through, and the like; as, scheme works out by degrees; to work into the earth. Till body up to spirit work, in bounds Proportioned to each kind. Milton.

7. To ferment, as a liquid. The working of beer when the barm is put in. Bacon.

8. To act or operate on the stomach and bowels, as a cathartic. Purges... work best, that is, cause the blood so to do, ... in warm weather or in a warm room. Grew.

To work at, to be engaged in or upon; to be employed in. -- To work to windward (Naut. ), to sail or ply against the wind; to tack to windward. Mar. Dict.

WORK

WORK Work, v. t.

1. To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to; to prepare for use, or to utilize, by labor. He could have told them of two or three gold mines, and a silver mine, and given the reason why they forbare to work them at that time. Sir W. Raleigh.

2. To produce or form by labor; to bring forth by exertion or toil; to accomplish; to originate; to effect; as, to work wood or iron into a form desired, or into a utensil; to work cotton or wool into cloth. Each herb he knew, that works or good or ill. Harte.

3. To produce by slow degrees, or as if laboriously; to bring gradually into any state by action or motion. "Sidelong he works his way. " Milton. So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stains Of rushing torrents and descending rains, Works itself clear, and as it runs, refines, Till by degrees the floating mirror shines. Addison.

4. To influence by acting upon; to prevail upon; to manage; to lead. "Work your royal father to his ruin. " Philips.

5. To form with a needle and thread or yarn; especially, to embroider; as, to work muslin.

6. To set in motion or action; to direct the action of; to keep at work; to govern; to manage; as, to work a machine. Knowledge in building and working ships. Arbuthnot. Now, Marcus, thy virtue's the proof; Put forth thy utmost strength, work every nerve. Addison. The mariners all 'gan work the ropes, Where they were wont to do. Coleridge.

7. To cause to ferment, as liquor. To work a passage (Naut. ), to pay for a passage by doing work. -- To work double tides (Naut. ), to perform the labor of three days in two; -- a phrase which alludes to a practice of working by the night tide as well as by the day. -- To work in, to insert, introduce, mingle, or interweave by labor or skill. -- To work into, to force, urge, or insinuate into; as, to work one's self into favor or confidence. -- To work off, to remove gradually, as by labor, or a gradual process; as, beer works off impurities in fermenting. -- To work out. (a ) To effect by labor and exertion. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. " Phil. ii. 12. (b ) To erase; to efface. [R.] Tears of joy for your returning spilt, Work out and expiate our former guilt. Dryden. (c ) To solve, as a problem. (d ) To exhaust, as a mine, by working. -- To work up. (a ) To raise; to excite; to stir up; as, to work up the passions to rage. The sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their heads, Works up more fire and color in their cheeks. Addison. (b ) To expend in any work, as materials; as, they have worked up all the stock. (c ) (Naut. ) To make over or into something else, as yarns drawn from old rigging, made into spun yarn, foxes, sennit, and the like; also, to keep constantly at work upon needless matters, as a crew in order to punish them. R. H. Dana, Jr.

WORKABLE

WORKABLE Work "a *ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being worked, or worth working; as, a workable mine; workable clay.

WORKADAY

WORKADAY Work "a *day `, n.

Defn: See Workyday.

WORKBAG

WORKBAG Work "bag `, n.

Defn: A bag for holding implements or materials for work; especially, a reticule, or bag for holding needlework, and the like.

WORKBASKET

WORKBASKET Work "bas `ket, n.

Defn: A basket for holding materials for needlework, or the like.

WORKBENCH

WORKBENCH Work "bench `, n.

Defn: A bench on which work is performed, as in a carpenter's shop.

WORKBOX

WORKBOX Work "box `, n.

Defn: A box for holding instruments or materials for work.

WORKDAY

Work "day `, n. & a. Etym: [AS. weorcdæg.]

Defn: A day on which work is performed, as distinguished from Sunday, festivals, etc. , a working day.

WORKER

WORKER Work "er, n.

1. One who, or that which, works; a laborer; a performer; as, a worker in brass. Professors of holiness, but workers of iniquity. Shak.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the neuter, or sterile, individuals of the social ants, bees, and white ants. The workers are generally females having the sexual organs imperfectly developed. See Ant, and White ant, under White.

WORKFELLOW

WORKFELLOW Work "fel `low, n.

Defn: One engaged in the same work with another; a companion in work.

WORKFOLK

WORKFOLK Work "folk `, n.

Defn: People that labor.

WORKFUL

WORKFUL Work "ful, a.

Defn: Full of work; diligent. [R.]

WORKHOUSE

Work "house `, n.; pl. Workhouses. Etym: [AS. weorch.]

1. A house where any manufacture is carried on; a workshop.

2. A house in which idle and vicious persons are confined to labor.

3. A house where the town poor are maintained at public expense, and provided with labor; a poorhouse.

WORKING

WORKING Work "ing,

Defn: a & n. from Work. The word must cousin be to the working. Chaucer. Working beam. See Beam, n. 1 . -- Working class, the class of people who are engaged in manual labor, or are dependent upon it for support; laborers; operatives; -- chiefly used in the plural. -- Working day. See under Day, n. -- Working drawing, a drawing, as of the whole or part of a structure, machine, etc. , made to a scale, and intended to be followed by the workmen. Working drawings are either general or detail drawings. -- Working house, a house where work is performed; a workhouse. -- Working point (Mach. ), that part of a machine at which the effect required; the point where the useful work is done.

WORKING-DAY

WORKING-DAY Work "ing-day, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, working days, or workdays; everyday; hence, plodding; hard-working. O, how full of briers in this working-day world. Shak.

WORKINGMAN

Work "ing *man, n.; pl. Workingmen (.

Defn: A laboring man; a man who earns his daily support by manual labor.

WORKLESS

WORKLESS Work "less, a.

1. Without work; not laboring; as, many people were still workless.

2. Not carried out in practice; not exemplified in fact; as, workless faith. [Obs. ] Sir T. More.

WORKMAN

Work "man, n.; pl. Workmen. Etym: [AS. weorcmann.]

1. A man employed in labor, whether in tillage or manufactures; a worker.

2. Hence, especially, a skillful artificer or laborer.

WORKMANLIKE

WORKMANLIKE Work "man *like `, a.

Defn: Becoming a workman, especially a skillful one; skillful; well performed.

WORKMANLY

WORKMANLY Work "man *ly, a.

Defn: Becoming a skillful workman; skillful; well performed; workmanlike.

WORKMANLY

WORKMANLY Work "man *ly, adv.

Defn: In a skillful manner; in a manner becoming a skillful workman. Shak.

WORKMANSHIP

WORKMANSHIP Work "man *ship, n.

1. The art or skill of a workman; the execution or manner of making anything. Due reward For her praiseworthy workmanship to yield. Spenser. Beauty is nature's brag, and must be shown. .. Where most may wonder at the workmanship. Milton.

2. That which is effected, made, or produced; manufacture, something made by manual labor. Not any skilled in workmanship embossed. Spenser. By how much Adam exceeded all men in perfection, by being the immediate workmanship of God. Sir W. Raleigh.

WORKMASTER

WORKMASTER Work "mas `ter, n.

Defn: The performer of any work; a master workman. [R.] Spenser.

WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ACT

WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ACT Workmen's compensation act. (Law )

Defn: A statute fixing the compensation that a workman may recover from an employer in case of accident, esp. the British act of 6 Edw. VII. c. 58 (19 6 ) giving to a workman, except in certain cases of "serious and willful misconduct, " a right against his employer to a certain compensation on the mere occurrence of an accident where the common law gives the right only for negligence of the employer.

WORKROOM

WORKROOM Work "room `, n.

Defn: Any room or apartment used especially for labor.

WORKSHIP

WORKSHIP Work "ship, n.

Defn: Workmanship. [R.]

WORKSHOP

WORKSHOP Work "shop `, n.

Defn: A shop where any manufacture or handiwork is carried on.

WORKTABLE

WORKTABLE Work "ta `ble, n.

Defn: A table for holding working materials and implements; esp. , a small table with drawers and other conveniences for needlework, etc.

WORKWAYS; WORKWISE

WORKWAYS; WORKWISE Work "ways `, Work "wise `, adv.

Defn: In a working position or manner; as, a T rail placed workwise, i.e., resting on its base.

WORKWOMAN

Work "wom `an, n.; pl. Workwomen (, n.

Defn: A woman who performs any work; especially, a woman skilled in needlework.

WORKYDAY

Work "y *day `, n. Etym: [See Workday, Workingday.]

Defn: A week day or working day, as distinguished from Sunday or a holiday. Also used adjectively. [Written also workiday, and workaday. ] [Obs. or Colloq. ] Prithee, tell her but a workyday fortune. Shak.

New American Oxford Dictionary

work

workable

work a ble |ˈwərkəbəl ˈwərkəbəl | ▶adjective 1 able to be worked, fashioned, or manipulated: more flour and salt can be added until they make a workable dough. 2 capable of producing the desired effect or result; practicable; feasible: a workable peace settlement. DERIVATIVES work a bil i ty |ˌwərkəˈbilitē |noun, work a bly |-blē |adverb

workaday

work a day |ˈwərkəˌdā ˈwərkəˌdeɪ | ▶adjective of or relating to work or one's job: the workaday world of timecards and performance reviews. • not special, unusual, or interesting in any way; ordinary: your humble workaday PC.

workaholic

work a hol ic |ˌwərkəˈhôlik, -ˈhälik ˈˌwərkəˈhɔlɪk ˈˌwərkəˈhɑlɪk | ▶noun informal a person who compulsively works hard and long hours. DERIVATIVES work a hol ism |ˈwərkəˌhôlizəm, -ˌhäl - |noun

workalike

work a like |ˈwərkəˌlīk ˈwərkəlaɪk | ▶noun Computing a computer that is able to use the software of another specified machine without special modification. • a piece of software identical in function to another software package.

workaround

work a round |ˈwərkəˌround ˈwɜːrkəraʊnd | ▶noun Computing a method for overcoming a problem or limitation in a program or system.

workbasket

work bas ket |ˈwərkˌbaskət ˈwərkˌbæskət |(also workbag ) ▶noun a basket (or bag ) used for storing sewing materials.

workbench

work bench |ˈwərkˌbenCH ˈwərkˌbɛntʃ | ▶noun a bench at which carpentry or other mechanical or practical work is done.

workboat

work boat |ˈwərkˌbōt ˈwərkboʊt | ▶noun a boat used for work such as commercial fishing or transporting freight, rather than leisure or naval service.

workbook

work book |ˈwərkˌbo͝ok ˈwərkˌbʊk | ▶noun a student's book containing instruction and exercises relating to a particular subject. • Computing a single file containing several different types of related information as separate worksheets.

workbox

work box |ˈwərkˌbäks ˈwərkˌbɑks | ▶noun a portable box used for storing or holding tools and materials for activities such as sewing.

work camp

work camp ▶noun a camp at which community work is done, esp. by young volunteers. • another term for labor camp.

workday

work day |ˈwərkˌdā ˈwərkˌdeɪ | ▶noun a day on which one works: Saturdays were workdays for him.

worker

work er |ˈwərkər ˈwərkər | ▶noun 1 a person or animal that works, in particular: • [ with adj. or noun modifier ] a person who does a specified type of work or who works in a specified way: a farm worker | she's a good worker. • an employee, esp. one who does manual or nonexecutive work. • (workers ) used in Marxist or leftist contexts to refer to the working class. • informal a person who works hard: I got a reputation for being a worker. • (in social insects such as bees, wasps, ants, and termites ) a neuter or undeveloped female that is a member of what is usually the most numerous caste and does the basic work of the colony. 2 a person who produces or achieves a specified thing: a worker of miracles.

worker priest

work er priest ▶noun a Roman Catholic priest, esp. in postwar France, or an Anglican priest who engages part-time in ordinary secular work.

work ethic

work eth ic ▶noun [ in sing. ] the principle that hard work is intrinsically virtuous or worthy of reward. See also Protestant ethic.

work experience

work ex |peri |ence ▶noun [ mass noun ] Brit. short-term experience of employment, typically arranged for older pupils by schools.

workfare

work fare |ˈwərkˌfe (ə )r ˈwərkˌfɛ (ə )r | ▶noun a welfare system that requires those receiving benefits to perform some work or to participate in job training. ORIGIN 1960s: from work + a shortened form of welfare .

workflow

work flow |ˈwərkˌflō ˈwərkfloʊ | ▶noun the sequence of industrial, administrative, or other processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion.

workforce

work force |ˈwɜːrkfɔːrs |(also work force ) ▶noun [ treated as sing. or pl. ] the people engaged in or available for work, either in a country or area or in a particular company or industry.

work function

work func tion ▶noun Physics the minimum quantity of energy that is required to remove an electron to infinity from the surface of a given solid, usually a metal. (Symbol: φ )

workgroup

work group |ˈwərkˌgro͞op ˈwərkɡrup | ▶noun a group within a workforce that normally works together. • Computing a group that shares data via a local network.

work-harden

work-hard en ▶verb [ with obj. ] (often as noun work-hardening ) Metallurgy toughen (a metal ) by cold-working.

workhorse

work horse |ˈwərkˌhôrs ˈwərkˌhɔrs | ▶noun a horse used for work on a farm. • a person or machine that dependably performs hard work over a long period of time: he was a workhorse of an actor, often appearing in as many as forty plays in a year.

workhouse

work house |ˈwərkˌhous ˈwərkˌhaʊs | ▶noun 1 historical (in the UK ) a public institution in which the destitute of a parish received board and lodging in return for work. 2 a prison in which petty offenders are expected to work.

working

work ing |ˈwərkiNG ˈwərkɪŋ | ▶adjective 1 having paid employment: the size of the working population. • engaged in manual labor: the vote is no longer sufficient protection for the working man. • relating to, suitable for, or for the purpose of work: improvements in living and working conditions. • (of an animal ) used in farming, hunting, or for guard duties; not kept as a pet or for show. • (of something possessed ) sufficient to work with: they have a working knowledge of contract law. • (of a theory, definition, or title ) used as the basis for work or argument and likely to be developed, adapted, or improved later: the working hypothesis is tested and refined through discussion. 2 functioning or able to function: the mill still has a working waterwheel. • (of parts of a machine ) moving and causing a machine to operate: the working parts of a digital watch. ▶noun 1 the action of doing work. • (usu. workings ) a mine or a part of a mine from which minerals are being extracted. 2 (workings ) the way in which a machine, organization, or system operates: we will be less secretive about the workings of government. PHRASES working lunch (or dinner, etc. ) a lunch (or dinner, etc. ) at which those present discuss business.

working capital

work ing cap i tal |ˈwərkɪŋ ˌkæpədl | ▶noun Finance the capital of a business that is used in its day-to-day trading operations, calculated as the current assets minus the current liabilities.

working class

work ing class |ˈwərkɪŋ ˈˌklæs | ▶noun [ treated as sing. or pl. ] the social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, esp. in manual or industrial work: the housing needs of the working classes. ▶adjective (working-class ) of, relating to, or characteristic of people belonging to such a group: a working-class community.

working day

work ing day |ˈwərkɪŋ deɪ | ▶noun another term for workday.

working drawing

work ing draw ing ▶noun a scale drawing that serves as a guide for the construction or manufacture of something such as a building or machine.

working girl

work ing girl |ˈwərkɪŋ ɡərl | ▶noun informal a woman who goes out to work rather than remaining at home. • euphemistic a prostitute.

working group

work ing group ▶noun a committee or group appointed to study and report on a particular question and make recommendations based on its findings.

working load

work ing load ▶noun the maximum load that a machine or other structure is designed to bear during normal operation.

workingman

work ing man |ˈwərkiNGˌman ˈwərkɪŋˌmæn | ▶noun ( pl. workingmen ) a man who works for wages, esp. in manual or industrial work.

working memory

work ing mem o ry ▶noun Psychology the part of short-term memory that is concerned with immediate conscious perceptual and linguistic processing. • Computing an area of high-speed memory used to store programs or data currently in use.

working storage

work ing stor age ▶noun Computing a part of a computer's memory that is used by a program for the storage of intermediate results or other temporary items.

Workington

Work ¦ing |ton |ˈwəːkɪŋtən | a port on the coast of Cumbria, NW England; pop. 19,700 (est. 2009 ).

workload

work load |ˈwərkˌlōd ˈwərkˌloʊd | ▶noun the amount of work to be done by someone or something: he had been given three deputies to ease his workload.

workman

work man |ˈwərkmən ˈwərkmən | ▶noun ( pl. workmen ) a man employed to do manual labor. • [ with adj. ] a person with specified skill in a job or craft: you check it through, like all good workmen do.

workmanlike

work man like |ˈwərkmənˌlīk ˈwərkmənˌlaɪk | ▶adjective showing efficient competence: a steady, workmanlike approach.

workmanship

work man ship |ˈwərkmənˌSHip ˈwərkmənˌʃɪp | ▶noun the degree of skill with which a product is made or a job done: cracks on the bridge girders were caused by poor workmanship.

workmate

work mate |ˈwərkˌmāt ˈwərkˌmeɪt | ▶noun chiefly Brit. a person with whom one works.

work of art

work of art |wərk əv | ▶noun a creative product with strong imaginative or aesthetic appeal.

workout

work out |ˈwərkˌout ˈwərkˌaʊt | ▶noun a session of vigorous physical exercise or training.

workpeople

work |people |ˈwəːkpiːp (ə )l | ▶plural noun Brit. people in paid employment, especially in manual or industrial labour.

work permit

work per mit |wərk ˈpərmɪt | ▶noun an official document giving a foreigner permission to take a job in a country.

workpiece

work piece |ˈwərkˌpēs ˈwərkpis | ▶noun an object being worked on with a tool or machine.

workplace

work place |ˈwərkˌplās ˈwərkˌpleɪs | ▶noun a place where people work, such as an office or factory.

work rate

work rate ▶noun the rate at which work is done. • the amount of energy that is expended in sport or physical exercise.

work release

work re lease |wərk rəˈlis | ▶noun leave of absence from prison by day enabling a prisoner to continue in normal employment.

workroom

work room |ˈwərkˌro͞om, -ˌro͝om ˈwərkˌrum ˈwərkˌrʊm | ▶noun a room for working in, esp. one equipped for a particular kind of work.

works council

works coun cil |wərks ˈkaʊnsəl | ▶noun chiefly Brit. a group of employees representing a workforce in discussions with their employers.

worksheet

work sheet |ˈwərkˌSHēt ˈwərkˌʃit | ▶noun 1 a paper listing questions or tasks for students. 2 a paper for recording work done or in progress. • Computing a data file created and used by a spreadsheet program, which takes the form of a matrix of cells when displayed.

workshop

work shop |ˈwərkˌSHäp ˈwərkˌʃɑp | ▶noun 1 a room or building in which goods are manufactured or repaired. 2 a meeting at which a group of people engage in intensive discussion and activity on a particular subject or project. ▶verb [ with obj. ] present a performance of (a dramatic work ), using intensive group discussion and improvisation in order to explore aspects of the production before formal staging: the play was workshopped briefly at the Shaw Festival.

work-shy

work-shy |wərk ʃaɪ | ▶adjective (of a person ) lazy and disinclined to work.

worksite

work site |ˈwərkˌsīt ˈwərksaɪt | ▶noun an area where an industry is located or where work takes place.

workspace

work space |ˈwərkˌspās ˈwərkˌspeɪs | ▶noun space in which to work: the kitchen is all white, with maximum workspace. • an area rented or sold for commercial purposes. • Computing a memory storage facility for temporary use.

workstation

work sta tion |ˈwərkˌstāSHən ˈwərkˌsteɪʃən | ▶noun 1 a desktop computer terminal, typically networked and more powerful than a personal computer. 2 an area where work of a particular nature is carried out, such as a specific location on a manufacturing assembly line.

work study

work study ▶noun [ mass noun ] (in business or industry ) a system of assessing methods of working so as to achieve the maximum output and efficiency.

work-study

work-stud y ▶adjective [ attrib. ] of or relating to a college program that enables students to work part-time while attending school.

work surface

work sur face ▶noun another term for countertop.

worktable

work ta ble |ˈwərktābəl ˈwərkteɪbəl | ▶noun a table at which one may work, esp. one with drawers or compartments for holding tools or materials.

worktop

work |top |ˈwəːktɒp | ▶noun Brit. a flat surface for working on, especially in a kitchen.

workup

work up |ˈwərkˌəp ˈwərkˌəp | ▶noun 1 a diagnostic examination of a patient: a full neurological workup. • Chemistry a series of experimental procedures carried out to separate and purify substances for analysis. 2 (in a military context ) a period of training or preparation, typically for a specific operation: an intensive predeployment workup.

workwear

work wear |ˈwərkˌwe (ə )r ˈwərkwɛr | ▶noun heavy-duty clothes for physical or manual work.

workweek

work week |ˈwərkˌwēk ˈwərkˌwik | ▶noun the total number of hours or days worked in a week: a six-day workweek.

Oxford Dictionary

work

work |wəːk | ▶noun [ mass noun ] 1 activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a result: he was tired after a day's work in the fields. • work as a means of earning income; employment: I'm still looking for work. • the place where one is employed: I was returning home from work on a packed subway. • the period of time one spends in paid employment: he was going to the theatre after work. • [ count noun ] W. Indian a job: I decided to get a work. 2 a task or tasks to be undertaken: they made sure the work was progressing smoothly. • the materials for a task: she frequently took work home with her. • (in combination or with modifier works ) chiefly Brit. activity involving construction or repair: extra costs caused by additional building works. • (works ) Theology good or moral deeds: the Clapham sect was concerned with works rather than with faith. 3 a thing or things done or made; the result of an action: her work hangs in all the main American collections | the bombing had been the work of a German-based cell. • [ count noun ] a literary or musical composition or other piece of art: a work of fiction. • (works ) the artistic production of a particular author, composer, or artist, regarded collectively: the works of Schubert fill several feet of shelf space. • a piece of embroidery, sewing, or knitting, typically made using a specified stitch or method. 4 (works ) [ treated as sing. ] chiefly Brit. a place or premises in which industrial or manufacturing processes are carried out: he found a job in the locomotive works. 5 (works ) the operative part of a clock or other machine: she could almost hear the tick of its works. 6 [ count noun ] (usu. works ) Military a defensive structure. 7 Physics the exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change. 8 (the works ) informal everything needed, desired, or expected: the heavens put on a show: sheet lightning, hailstones, the works. ▶verb ( past and past participle worked or archaic wrought ) [ no obj. ] 1 be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a result; do work: an engineer who was working on a design for a more efficient wing | new contracts forcing employees to work longer hours. • be employed in a specified occupation or field: he worked as a waiter in a rather shabby restaurant. • [ with obj. ] set to or keep at work: Jane is working you too hard. • [ with obj. ] practise one's occupation in or at (a particular place ): I worked a few clubs and so forth. • [ with obj. ] W. Indian be engaged in (a particular occupation ): I worked fireman on ships. 2 (of a machine or system ) function, especially properly or effectively: his phone doesn't work unless he goes to a high point. • (with reference to a machine or machine part ) be or cause to be in operation: [ no obj. ] : the device is designed to go into a special ‘rest ’ state when it's not working | [ with obj. ] : teaching customers how to work a VCR. 3 (of a plan or method ) have the desired result or effect: the desperate ploy had worked. • [ with obj. ] produce as a result: with a dash of blusher here and there, you can work miracles. • make efforts to achieve something; campaign: an organization working for a better life for people with mental illness. • (work on /upon ) exert influence or persuasion on: she worked upon the sympathy of her associates. • [ with obj. ] use one's persuasive power to stir the emotions of: the born politician's art of working a crowd. 4 [ with obj. and adverbial or complement ] bring (a material or mixture ) to a desired shape or consistency by hammering, kneading, etc.: work the mixture into a paste with your hands. • [ no obj. ] (work in ) produce artistic pieces using (a particular material or medium ): he works in clay over a very strong frame. • [ with obj. ] produce (an article or design ) using a specified material or sewing stitch: the castle itself is worked in tent stitch. • [ with obj. ] cultivate (land ) or extract materials from (a mine or quarry ): contracts and leases to work the mines. 5 move or cause to move gradually or with difficulty into another position: [ with obj. and adverbial or complement ] : comb hair from tip to root, working out the knots at the end | [ no obj., with adverbial or complement ] : look for small parts that might work loose. • [ no obj. ] (of a person's features ) move violently or convulsively: hair wild, mouth working furiously. • [ no obj., with adverbial ] Sailing make progress to windward, with repeated tacking: trying to work to windward in light airs. 6 [ with obj. ] bring into a specified emotional state: Harold had worked himself into a minor rage. PHRASES at work in action: researchers were convinced that one infectious agent was at work. give someone the works informal 1 tell someone everything. 2 treat someone harshly or violently. have one's work cut out be faced with a hard or lengthy task. in the works being planned, worked on, or produced. out of work unemployed. any reduction in spending will close shops and put people out of work. set to work (or set someone to work ) begin or cause to begin work: the owners set to work itemizing what was wrong. a spanner (or N. Amer. monkey wrench ) in the works a person or thing that prevents the successful implementation of a plan. the work of —— a task occupying a specified amount of time: it was the work of a moment to discover the tiny stab wound. work one's ass ( butt, etc. ) off vulgar slang work extremely hard. work one's fingers to the bone see bone. work to rule chiefly Brit. follow official working rules and hours exactly in order to reduce output and efficiency, especially as a form of industrial action. • (as noun work-to-rule ) an instance or period of working to rule: management urged cabin crew to call off their work-to-rule. work one's passage pay for one's journey on a ship with work instead of money. work one's way through university (or college, etc. ) obtain the money for educational fees or maintenance as a student by working. work one's will on /upon accomplish one's purpose on: she set a coiffeur to work his will on her hair. work wonders see wonder. PHRASAL VERBS work something in try to include something, typically in a text or speech. work something off 1 discharge a debt by working. 2 reduce or eliminate something by work or other activity: one of those gimmicks for working off aggression. work out 1 (of an equation ) be capable of being solved. • (work out at ) be calculated at: the losses work out at $2.94 a share. 2 have a good or specified result: things don't always work out that way. 3 engage in vigorous physical exercise. work someone out understand someone's character. work something out 1 solve a sum or determine an amount by calculation. • find the answer to something: I couldn't work out whether it was a band playing or a record. 2 plan something in detail: work out a seating plan. 3 literary accomplish something with difficulty: malicious fates are bent on working out an ill intent. 4 work a mine until it is exhausted of minerals. 5 another way of saying work something off above. work someone over informal beat someone severely: the coppers had worked him over a little just for the fun of it. work to follow or operate within the constraints of (a schedule or system ): working to tight deadlines. work up to proceed gradually towards (something more advanced or intense ): the course starts with landing technique, working up to jumps from an enclosed platform. work someone up (often get worked up ) gradually bring someone, especially oneself, to a state of intense excitement, anger, or anxiety: he got all worked up and started shouting and swearing. work something up 1 bring something gradually to a more complete or satisfactory state: painters were accustomed to working up compositions from drawings. 2 develop or produce by activity or effort: despite the cold, George had already worked up a fair sweat. DERIVATIVES workless adjective, worklessness noun ORIGIN Old English weorc (noun ), wyrcan (verb ), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch werk and German Werk, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek ergon .

workable

work |able |ˈwəːkəb (ə )l | ▶adjective 1 able to be worked, fashioned, or manipulated: more flour and salt can be added until they make a workable dough. 2 capable of producing the desired effect or result; practicable; feasible: a workable peace settlement. DERIVATIVES workability |-ˈbɪlɪti |noun, workably adverb

workaday

work |aday |ˈwəːkədeɪ | ▶adjective 1 not special, unusual, or interesting; ordinary: your humble workaday PC. 2 relating to work or one's job.

workaholic

workalike

workaround

work |around |ˈwɜːkəraʊnd | ▶noun Computing a method for overcoming a problem or limitation in a program or system.

work basket

work basket (also work bag ) ▶noun a basket (or bag ) used for storing sewing materials.

workbench

work |bench |ˈwəːkbɛn (t )ʃ | ▶noun a bench at which carpentry or other mechanical or practical work is done.

workboat

work |boat |ˈwəːkbəʊt | ▶noun a boat used for carrying out various kinds of work such as fishing or transporting freight.

workbook

work |book |ˈwəːkbʊk | ▶noun 1 a student's book containing instruction and exercises relating to a particular subject. 2 Computing a single file containing several different types of related information as separate worksheets.

workbox

work |box |ˈwəːkbɒks | ▶noun a portable box used for storing or holding tools and materials for activities such as sewing.

work camp

work camp ▶noun a camp at which community work is done, especially by young volunteers. • another term for labour camp.

workday

work |day |ˈwəːkdeɪ | ▶noun a day on which one works: Saturdays were workdays for him.

worker

work ¦er |ˈwəːkə | ▶noun 1 a person who works, in particular: • [ with adj. or noun modifier ] a person who does a specified type of work or who works in a specified way: a farm worker | she's a good worker. • an employee, especially one who does manual or non-executive work. • informal a person who works hard: I got a reputation for being a worker. • (workers ) used in Marxist or leftist contexts to refer to the working class. 2 a person who achieves a specified thing: he was a bogus worker of miracles. 3 a neuter or undeveloped female bee, wasp, ant, or other social insect, large numbers of which do the basic work of the colony.

worker priest

work ¦er priest ▶noun a Roman Catholic or Anglican priest who engages part-time in ordinary secular work.

work ethic

work ethic ▶noun the principle that hard work is intrinsically virtuous or worthy of reward. See also Protestant ethic.

work experience

work ex |peri |ence ▶noun [ mass noun ] Brit. short-term experience of employment, typically arranged for older pupils by schools.

workfare

work |fare |ˈwəːkfɛː | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a welfare system which requires some work or attendance for training from those receiving benefits. ORIGIN 1960s: from work + a shortened form of welfare .

workflow

work |flow ▶noun the sequence of industrial, administrative, or other processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion.

workforce

work |force |ˈwəːkfɔːs | ▶noun [ treated as sing. or pl. ] the people engaged in or available for work, either in a country or area or in a particular firm or industry.

work function

work func |tion ▶noun Physics the minimum quantity of energy which is required to remove an electron to infinity from the surface of a given solid, usually a metal. (Symbol: φ )

work group

work group ▶noun a group within a workforce who normally work together. • Computing a group who share data via a local network.

work-harden

work-harden ▶verb [ with obj. ] (often as noun work-hardening ) Metallurgy toughen (a metal ) as a result of cold-working.

workhorse

work |horse |ˈwəːkhɔːs | ▶noun a horse used for work on a farm. • a person or machine that dependably performs hard work over a long period of time: the aircraft was the standard workhorse of Soviet medium-haul routes.

workhouse

work |house |ˈwəːkhaʊs | ▶noun 1 historical (in the UK ) a public institution in which the destitute of a parish received board and lodging in return for work. 2 US a prison in which petty offenders are expected to work.

working

work |ing |ˈwəːkɪŋ | ▶adjective 1 having paid employment: the size of the working population. • engaged in manual labour: the vote is no longer sufficient protection for the working man. • relating to, suitable for, or for the purpose of work: improvements in living and working conditions. • (of an animal ) used in farming, hunting, or for guard duties; not kept as a pet or for show. 2 functioning or able to function: the mill still has a working waterwheel. • (of parts of a machine ) moving and causing a machine to operate: the working parts of a digital watch. 3 (of a theory, definition, or title ) used as the basis for work or argument and likely to be developed or improved later: his working title for the book was Why People Are Poor . • sufficient to work with at a basic level: they have a working knowledge of contract law. ▶noun 1 [ mass noun ] the action of doing work. • [ count noun ] a scheduled duty or trip performed by a locomotive, train, bus, or other vehicle: locomotive 37418 is often seen on this working. 2 ( workings ) the way in which a machine, organization, or system operates: we will be less secretive about the workings of government. • the record of the successive calculations made in solving a mathematical problem: show details of workings in your answer book. 3 [ count noun ] (usu. workings ) a mine or a part of a mine from which minerals are being extracted.

working capital

working capital ▶noun [ mass noun ] Finance the capital of a business which is used in its day-to-day trading operations, calculated as the current assets minus the current liabilities. Also called net current assets.

working class

work |ing class ▶noun [ treated as sing. or pl. ] the social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work: the housing needs of the working classes. ▶adjective relating to or characteristic of the working class: a working-class community.

working day

work |ing day ▶noun chiefly Brit. a day on which one usually works. • the part of the day devoted or allotted to work: a long working day.

working drawing

work |ing draw |ing ▶noun a scale drawing which serves as a guide for the construction or manufacture of something such as a building or machine.

working girl

work |ing girl ▶noun informal a woman who goes out to work rather than remaining at home. • euphemistic a prostitute.

working load

work |ing load ▶noun the maximum load that a machine or other structure is designed to bear.

workingman

work ¦ing |man ▶noun ( pl. workingmen ) N. Amer. a man who works for wages, especially in manual or industrial work.

working memory

work |ing mem ¦ory ▶noun 1 Psychology the part of short-term memory which is concerned with immediate conscious perceptual and linguistic processing. 2 Computing an area of high-speed memory used to store programs or data currently in use.

working party

working party (also working group ) ▶noun Brit. a committee or group appointed to study and report on a particular question and make recommendations based on its findings.

working storage

work |ing stor |age ▶noun [ mass noun ] Computing a part of a computer's memory that is used by a program for the storage of intermediate results or other temporary items.

Workington

Work ¦ing |ton |ˈwəːkɪŋtən | a port on the coast of Cumbria, NW England; pop. 19,700 (est. 2009 ).

workload

work |load |ˈwəːkləʊd | ▶noun the amount of work to be done by someone or something: he had been given three deputies to ease his workload.

workman

work |man |ˈwəːkmən | ▶noun ( pl. workmen ) a man employed to do manual labour. • [ with adj. ] a person with specified skill in a job or craft: you check it through, like all good workmen do. PHRASES a bad workman always blames his tools proverb a person who has done something badly will seek to lay the blame on their equipment rather than admit their own lack of skill.

workmanlike

work ¦man |like |ˈwəːkmənlʌɪk | ▶adjective showing efficient competence but not inspiration: a steady, workmanlike approach.

workmanship

work ¦man |ship |ˈwəːkmənʃɪp | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the degree of skill with which a product is made or a job done: cracks on the motorway were caused by poor workmanship.

workmate

work |mate |ˈwəːkmeɪt | ▶noun chiefly Brit. a person with whom one works.

work of art

work of art ▶noun a creative product with strong imaginative or aesthetic appeal.

workout

work |out |ˈwəːkaʊt | ▶noun a session of vigorous physical exercise or training.

workpeople

work |people |ˈwəːkpiːp (ə )l | ▶plural noun Brit. people in paid employment, especially in manual or industrial labour.

work permit

work per ¦mit ▶noun an official document giving a foreigner permission to take a job in a country.

workpiece

work |piece |ˈwəːkpiːs | ▶noun an object being worked on with a tool or machine.

workplace

work |place |ˈwəːkpleɪs | ▶noun a place where people work, such as an office or factory.

work rate

work rate ▶noun the rate at which work is done. • the amount of energy that is expended in sport or physical exercise.

work release

work re |lease ▶noun [ mass noun ] chiefly N. Amer. leave of absence from prison by day enabling a prisoner to continue in normal employment.

workroom

work |room |ˈwəːkruːm, -rʊm | ▶noun a room for working in, especially one equipped for a particular kind of work.

works council

works coun |cil ▶noun chiefly Brit. a group of employees representing a workforce in discussions with their employers.

worksheet

work |sheet |ˈwəːkʃiːt | ▶noun 1 a paper listing questions or tasks for students. 2 a paper for recording work done or in progress. • Computing a data file created and used by a spreadsheet program, which takes the form of a matrix of cells when displayed.

workshop

work |shop |ˈwəːkʃɒp | ▶noun 1 a room or building in which goods are manufactured or repaired. 2 a meeting at which a group of people engage in intensive discussion and activity on a particular subject or project. ▶verb ( workshops, workshopping, workshopped ) [ with obj. ] present a performance of (a dramatic work ), using intensive group discussion and improvisation in order to explore aspects of the production prior to formal staging: the play was workshopped briefly at the Shaw Festival.

work-shy

work-shy ▶adjective (of a person ) lazy and disinclined to work.

worksite

work |site |ˈwəːksʌɪt | ▶noun an area where an industry is located or where work takes place.

workspace

work |space |ˈwəːkspeɪs | ▶noun [ mass noun ] space in which to work: the kitchen is all white, with maximum workspace. • [ count noun ] an area rented or sold for commercial purposes. • [ count noun ] Computing a memory storage facility for temporary use.

workstation

work |sta ¦tion |ˈwəːksteɪʃ (ə )n | ▶noun 1 a desktop computer terminal, typically networked and more powerful than a personal computer. 2 an area where work of a particular nature is carried out, such as a specific location on an assembly line.

work-study

work-stud y ▶adjective [ attrib. ] of or relating to a college program that enables students to work part-time while attending school.

work study

work study ▶noun [ mass noun ] (in business or industry ) a system of assessing methods of working so as to achieve the maximum output and efficiency.

work surface

work sur |face ▶noun another term for worktop.

worktable

worktable ▶noun a table at which one may work, especially one with drawers or compartments for holding tools or materials.

worktop

work |top |ˈwəːktɒp | ▶noun Brit. a flat surface for working on, especially in a kitchen.

workup

work ¦up |ˈwəːkʌp | ▶noun 1 chiefly US a diagnostic examination of a patient: a full neurological workup. • Chemistry a series of experimental procedures carried out to separate and purify substances for analysis. 2 (in a military context ) a period of training or preparation, typically for a specific operation: the first Harrier squadron began its workup.

workwear

work |wear |ˈwəːkwɛː | ▶noun [ mass noun ] heavy-duty clothes for physical or manual work.

workweek

work |week |ˈwɜːkwiːk | ▶noun N. Amer. the total number of hours or days worked in a week: we need a shorter workweek and protected benefits for contract workers.

American Oxford Thesaurus

work

work noun 1 a day's work in the fields: labor, toil, slog, drudgery, exertion, effort, industry, service; informal grind, sweat, elbow grease; literary travail. ANTONYMS leisure, rest. 2 I'm looking for work: employment, a job, a position, a situation, a post; an occupation, a profession, a career, a vocation, a calling; wage labor; tasks, jobs, duties, assignments, projects; chores. ANTONYMS unemployment, retirement. 3 works of literature: composition, piece, creation; opus, oeuvre. 4 (works ) the complete works of Shakespeare: writings, oeuvre, canon, output. 5 this is the work of a radical faction: handiwork, doing, act, deed. 6 (works ) a lifetime spent doing good works: deeds, acts, actions. 7 informal (the works ) for only $60 you can get the works: everything, the full treatment; informal the lot, the whole shebang, the full nine yards, the whole kit and kaboodle, the whole ball of wax. ▶verb 1 staff worked late into the night: toil, labor, exert oneself, slave (away ); keep at it, put one's nose to the grindstone; informal slog (away ), plug away, put one's back into it, knock oneself out, sweat blood; literary travail. ANTONYMS rest, play. 2 he worked in education for years: be employed, have a job, earn one's living, do business. 3 farmers worked the land: cultivate, farm, till, plow. 4 his car was working perfectly: function, go, run, operate; informal behave. 5 how do I work this machine? operate, use, handle, control, manipulate, run. 6 their ploy worked: succeed, work out, turn out well, go as planned, get results, be effective; informal come off, pay off, do /turn the trick. ANTONYMS fail. 7 makeup can work miracles: bring about, accomplish, achieve, produce, perform, create, engender, contrive, effect. 8 informal can you work it so I can get in for free? arrange it /things, manipulate it /things, contrive it; pull strings, fix it, swing it, wangle it. 9 he worked the crowd into a frenzy: stir (up ), excite, drive, move, rouse, fire, galvanize; whip up, agitate. 10 work the mixture into a paste: knead, squeeze, form; mix, stir, blend. 11 he worked the blade into the padlock: maneuver, manipulate, guide, edge. 12 her mouth worked furiously: twitch, quiver, convulse. 13 he worked his way through the crowd: maneuver, make, thread, wind, weave, wend. PHRASES work on leave Hank to me —I'll work on him: persuade, manipulate, influence; coax, cajole, wheedle, soften up, sweet-talk; informal twist someone's arm, lean on. work out 1 the bill works out to $50: amount to, add up to, come to, total. 2 my idea worked out. See work (sense 6 of the verb ). 3 things didn't work out the way she planned: end up, turn out, go, come out, develop; happen, occur; informal pan out. 4 he works out at the local gym: exercise, train. 5 work out what you can afford: calculate, compute, determine, reckon (up ). 6 I'm trying to work out what she meant: understand, comprehend, sort out, make sense of, get to the bottom of, make head (s ) or tail (s ) of, unravel, decipher, decode, puzzle out; informal figure out. 7 they worked out a plan: devise, formulate, draw up, put together, develop, construct, arrange, organize, contrive, concoct; hammer out, negotiate. work up he couldn't work up any enthusiasm: stimulate, rouse, raise, arouse, awaken, excite. USAGE See wrought . Usage notes show additional guidance on finer points of English usage. CHOOSE THE RIGHT WORD See labor . These notes show fine distinctions in meaning between closely related synonyms to help you find the best word.

workable

workable adjective a workable household budget: practicable, feasible, viable, possible, achievable; realistic, reasonable, sensible, practical; informal doable. ANTONYMS impracticable.

workaday

workaday adjective workaday prose | our workaday lives: ordinary, average, run-of-the-mill, middle-of-the-road, conventional, unremarkable, unexceptional, humdrum, undistinguished, commonplace, mundane, pedestrian; routine, everyday, day-to-day, garden-variety, standard; informal nothing to write home about, dime a dozen. ANTONYMS exceptional.

worker

worker noun 1 a strike by 500 workers: employee, member of staff; workman, laborer, hand, operative, operator; proletarian; artisan, craftsman, craftswoman; wage earner, breadwinner. 2 informal I have a reputation for being a worker: hard worker, toiler, workhorse; informal busy bee, eager beaver, workaholic, wheelhorse.

workforce

workforce noun management must now justify its actions to the workforce: employees, staff, personnel, workers, labor force, human resources, manpower.

working

working adjective 1 working mothers: employed, in (gainful ) employment, in work, waged. ANTONYMS unemployed, out of work. 2 a working windmill: functioning, operating, running, active, operational, functional, serviceable; informal up and running. ANTONYMS broken, faulty. 3 a working knowledge of contract law: sufficient, adequate, viable; useful, effective. ▶noun 1 the working of a carburetor: functioning, operation, running, action, performance. 2 (workings ) the workings of a watch: mechanism, machinery, parts, movement, action, works; informal insides.

workman

workman noun the workmen are on their lunch break: worker, laborer, hand, operative, operator; employee; journeyman, artisan.

workmanship

workmanship noun the workmanship evidenced in these chairs is superb: craftsmanship, artistry, craft, art, artisanship, handiwork; skill, expertise, technique.

workout

workout noun cool down gradually after your workout: exercise session, training session, drill; warm-up; exercises, aerobics, isometrics, callisthenics.

workshop

workshop noun 1 the craftsmen had a chilly workshop: workroom, studio, atelier; factory, plant. 2 a workshop on combating stress: study group, discussion group, seminar, class; support group.

Oxford Thesaurus

work

work noun 1 he was tired after a day's work in the fields: labour, toil, exertion, effort, slog, drudgery, the sweat of one's brow; industry; service; informal grind, sweat, donkey work, spadework, elbow grease; Brit. informal graft, fag; Austral. /NZ informal yakka; archaic travail, moil. ANTONYMS leisure, rest. 2 I'm still looking for work | his work takes him to France, Spain, and Germany: employment, a job, a post, a position, a situation, a means of earning one's living; occupation, profession, career, business, trade, line; vocation, calling; archaic employ. 3 haven't you got any work to do? tasks, jobs, duties, assignments, commissions, projects; chores. 4 one of the best works of modern English literature: composition, piece, creation, achievement, accomplishment; work of art, opus, oeuvre. 5 the shooting was the work of a radical left-wing group: handiwork, doing, act, deed, feat, performance. 6 (works ) a lifetime spent doing good works: deeds, acts, actions. 7 (works ) the complete works of Shakespeare: writings, oeuvre, canon, output. 8 (works ) the site of a former car works: factory, plant, manufacturing complex, mill, foundry, yard, industrial unit; workshop, shop. 9 (works ) the works of a clock: mechanism, machinery, workings, working parts, parts, movement, action; informal innards, insides. 10 (the works ) informal for only $60 you can get the works: everything, the full treatment; informal everything but the kitchen sink, the lot, the whole shooting match, the whole (kit and ) caboodle, the whole shebang, the whole nine yards; Brit. informal the full monty; N. Amer. informal the whole ball of wax. ▶verb 1 staff worked late into the night to make the necessary repairs: toil, labour, exert oneself, slave (away ), plod away; work one's fingers to the bone, work like a Trojan /dog, work day and night, keep at it, keep one's nose to the grindstone; informal slog (away ), beaver away, plug away, peg away, put one's back into something, work one's guts out, work one's socks off, knock oneself out, sweat blood, kill oneself; Brit. informal graft, fag; Austral. /NZ informal bullock; Brit. vulgar slang work one's balls /arse off; N. Amer. vulgar slang work one's ass /butt off; archaic drudge, travail, moil. ANTONYMS rest, play. 2 Taylor has worked in education for 17 years: be employed, have a job, earn one's living, hold down a job, do business, follow /ply one's trade. 3 many farmers had given up working the land: cultivate, farm, till, plough; exploit. 4 Dino's car was now working perfectly: function, go, run, operate, perform; be in working order; informal behave. 5 she showed me how to work the ice-cream machine: operate, use, handle, control, manipulate, manoeuvre, drive, run, direct; ply, wield. 6 their desperate ploy had worked: succeed, be successful, work out, turn out well, go as planned, have the desired result, get results; be effective, take effect, be efficacious; informal come off, pay off, do the trick, do the business; N. Amer. informal turn the trick. ANTONYMS fail. 7 with a dash of blusher you can work miracles: bring about, accomplish, achieve, produce, do, perform, carry out, implement, execute, create, engender, contrive, effect. 8 informal the chairman was prepared to work it for Philip if he was interested: arrange, manipulate, manoeuvre, contrive; pull strings; N. Amer. pull wires; informal fix, swing, wangle, fiddle. 9 he worked the crowd into a frenzy: stir (up ), excite, drive, move, spur, rouse, fire, galvanize; whip up, inflame, incite, agitate. 10 work the mixture into a paste: knead, squeeze, form, shape, fashion, mould, model; mix, stir, blend. 11 he worked the blade into the padlock: manoeuvre, manipulate, negotiate, guide, edge. 12 Bella's mouth worked furiously for a few seconds: twitch, quiver, twist, move spasmodically, convulse. 13 John had worked his way through the crowd: manoeuvre, make, thread, wind, weave. PHRASES work on someone leave him to me —I'll work on him: persuade, manipulate, influence, sway, put pressure on, lean on; coax, cajole, wheedle, soften up; informal twist someone's arm, put the squeeze on. work out 1 the bill works out at £50: amount to, add up to, come to, total; Brit. tot up to. 2 I'm glad my idea worked out: succeed, be successful, work, turn out well, go as planned, get results, be effective; informal come off, pay off, do the trick, do the business. ANTONYMS fail. 3 things didn't quite work out the way she had planned: end up, turn out, go, come out, develop, evolve, result; happen, occur; informal pan out. 4 Bob keeps in shape by working out at the local gym: exercise, do exercises, train. work something out 1 work out how much you can afford to spend: calculate, compute, reckon up, determine. 2 I'm still trying to work out what she meant: understand, comprehend, puzzle out, sort out, reason out, make sense of, think out, think through, get to the bottom of, make head or tail of, solve, find an answer /solution to, unravel, untangle, decipher, decode, find the key to, piece together; informal figure out, crack; Brit. informal suss out. 3 they worked out a plan of action: devise, formulate, draw up, put together, develop, prepare, construct, arrange, organize, plan, think up, contrive, concoct; hammer out, thrash out, reach an agreement on, negotiate. work someone over it looked like someone had worked him over to get him to say what they wanted him to say: beat up, beat, attack, assault, knock about /around, maltreat, mistreat, abuse, batter, manhandle; informal do over, bash up, rough up, beat the living daylights out of; Brit. informal duff up; N. Amer. informal beat up on. work something up he couldn't seem to work up any enthusiasm: stimulate, rouse, raise, arouse, awaken, excite, build up, whet; develop, produce. WORD LINKS work ergophobia fear of work Word Links sections supply words that are related to the headword but do not normally appear in a thesaurus because they are not actual synonyms.CHOOSE THE RIGHT WORD work, labour, toil ■ Work is the general term for things that one has to do in order to earn a living or to achieve a particular aim (she did clerical work before she married | work on landscaping the disused railway line was started in 1980 ). When applied to the actual doing of these things, work implies that effort is involved (thank you for your hard work on the project ). As a verb, the word means simply to carry out any kind of such activity (a man was working in the garden ). ■ Labour typically denotes physical work, especially when this is hard and exhausting (manual labour | exhausted by labour in the fields ). To labour is to work hard (they laboured from dawn to dusk ) or to have difficulty in doing something in spite of working hard (the media group is currently labouring to reduce its debt mountain ). ■ Toil, as a noun or a verb, refers to exhausting, tedious, and seemingly unending hard work (most of the poet's life was spent in toil on the farm | the clerks sat toiling into the night over some urgent piece of business ). To toil in a stated direction means to struggle to move somewhere (she toiled up the path with her packages ).These notes show fine distinctions in meaning between closely related synonyms to help you find the best word.

workable

workable adjective a workable solution to the problem: practicable, feasible, viable, possible, within the bounds /realms of possibility, achievable, accomplishable; realistic, reasonable, sensible, practical; informal doable. ANTONYMS unworkable, impracticable, impossible.

workaday

workaday adjective workaday prose | her workaday life: ordinary, average, run-of-the-mill, middle-of-the-road, mainstream, conventional, unremarkable, unexceptional, unpretentious, plain, simple, undistinguished, nondescript, characterless, colourless, commonplace, humdrum, mundane, unmemorable, unspectacular, pedestrian, prosaic; routine, everyday, day-to-day, quotidian; N. Amer. garden-variety; informal bog-standard, vanilla, plain vanilla, nothing to write home about, a dime a dozen; Brit. informal common or garden, two a penny; N. Amer. informal ornery. ANTONYMS extraordinary, exceptional.

worker

worker noun 1 an unofficial strike by 500 workers at the factory: employee, member of staff, working man, working woman, workman, labourer, hand, operative, operator; blue-collar worker, white-collar worker; proletarian; artisan, journeyman, craftsman, craftswoman; wage-earner, breadwinner; archaic mechanical. 2 informal I got a reputation for being a worker: hard worker, toiler, workhorse, Stakhanovite; informal busy bee, eager beaver, workaholic; N. Amer. informal wheel horse, wonk.

workforce

workforce noun employees, staff, personnel, human resources; workers, labour force, manpower; humorous liveware.

working

working adjective 1 childcare for working mothers: employed, in work, in a job, waged, in gainful employment. ANTONYMS unemployed, out of work. 2 the mill still has a working waterwheel: functioning, operating, going, running, active; in working order, operational, functional, able to function, usable, serviceable; informal up and running. ANTONYMS broken, faulty. 3 a working knowledge of contract law: sufficient, adequate, good enough, viable; useful, effective. ▶noun 1 the working of a carburettor: functioning, operation, running, action, performance. 2 (workings ) the workings of a pocket watch: mechanism, machinery, working /moving parts, movement, action, works; informal innards, insides.

workman

workman noun worker, manual worker, labourer, hand, operative, operator; employee; journeyman, artisan; Indian maistry.

workmanlike

workmanlike adjective the team put up a good, workmanlike performance: efficient, competent, satisfactory; professional, proficient, skilled, skilful, adept, masterly. ANTONYMS amateurish.

workmanship

workmanship noun craftsmanship, artistry, craft, art, artisanship, handiwork, work; skill, skilfulness, technique, expertise.

workout

workout noun exercise session, keep-fit session, physical training session, drill; warm-up, limbering up; exercises, aerobics, isometrics, gymnastics, callisthenics; informal, dated daily dozen.

workshop

workshop noun 1 a car repair workshop: factory, works, plant; shop, industrial unit; garage. 2 the craftsmen worked in a freezing cold workshop: workroom, studio, atelier. 3 a workshop on ‘Combating Job Stress ’: study group, discussion group, seminar, class.

Duden Dictionary

Workaholic

Wor k a ho lic , Wor ka ho lic Substantiv, maskulin , der |wəːkəˈhɔlɪk |der Workaholic; Genitiv: des Workaholics, Plural: die Workaholics englisch workaholic, aus: work = Arbeit und -aholic = -süchtig, -verrückt, gebildet nach: alcoholic = Alkoholiker jemand, der unter dem Zwang steht, ununterbrochen arbeiten zu müssen

Workflow

Work flow Substantiv, maskulin , der |ˈwəːkfloʊ |der Workflow; Genitiv: des Workflows, Plural: die Workflows englisch workflow, aus: work = Arbeit; das Arbeiten und flow = Fluss; das Fließen 1 Fachsprache Abwicklung arbeitsteiliger Vorgänge bzw. Geschäftsprozesse in Unternehmen und Behörden mit dem Ziel größtmöglicher Effizienz 2 EDV Arbeitsablauf bei Computerprogrammen

Work-out

Work-out , Work out Substantiv, Neutrum oder Substantiv, maskulin , das oder der Workout |ˈwəːk |a͜ut ˈwəːk |a͜ut |das Work-out oder der Work-out; Genitiv: des Work-outs, Plural: die Work-outs das Workout oder der Workout; Genitiv: des Workouts, Plural: die Workouts englisch workout, zu: to work out = (intensiv ) trainieren sportliche Übung zur Steigerung der körperlichen Leistungsfähigkeit; intensives [Fitness ]training

Workshop

Work shop Substantiv, maskulin , der |ˈwəːkʃɔp |der Workshop; Genitiv: des Workshops, Plural: die Workshops englisch workshop, eigentlich = Werkstatt, zu: shop, Shop Kurs, Veranstaltung o. Ä., in dem bestimmte Themen von den Teilnehmern selbst erarbeitet werden, praktische Übungen durchgeführt werden

Worksong

Work song Substantiv, maskulin Geschichte , der der Worksong; Genitiv: des Worksongs, Plural: die Worksongs englisch Arbeitslied, besonders der afroamerikanischen Sklaven

Workstation

Work sta tion Substantiv, feminin EDV , die |ˈwəːksteɪʃn̩ |die Workstation; Genitiv: der Workstation, Plural: die Workstations englisch work-station, eigentlich = Arbeitsstation, zu: station = Station sehr leistungsfähiger, an einem Arbeitsplatz installierter, meist an ein lokales Netz angeschlossener Computer, der besonders beim Einsatz und bei der Entwicklung umfangreicher Systeme von Programmen benötigt wird Kurzform: Station 5c

French Dictionary

workaholic

workaholic FORME FAUTIVE Anglicisme pour accro du travail, bourreau de travail.

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

work

work /wəː r k / (! -or-は /əː r /) 〖語源は「行う」〗(名 )worker, workman, (形 )working コーパス頻度ランク work +前置詞 ①with (↓自動詞 1 第1例, 2 第2, 6例, 6 第1例, 7 第1例 )②in (↓自動詞 1 第2, 3例, 5 第4例 )③for (↓自動詞 1 第1, 5例, 3 第3例, 成句 )④on (↓成句 )⑤at (↓自動詞 1 第2例, 成句 )❢work は「働く」が基本的な意味の動詞で, 場所対象役割協力者などを表すさまざまな名詞を導く前置詞を伴って用いられる .動詞～s /-s /; ～ed /-t /; ～ing 自動詞 1 (職業として )仕事を持っている ; 【会社などに】勤めている , 雇われている «for , with » ; 【工場などで】働いている «in , at » ; «…の産業界で » 仕事をしている «in » ; 【職業人として】雇われている «as » ▸ “What do you do? ” “I'm an engineer. I work for [with ] a company that makes software. ”「お仕事は何をしているのですか」「技師です . ソフトウェアを作っている会社に勤めています」▸ work in [at ] a car factory 自動車工場で働いている ▸ work in television [advertising, publishing ] ≒work in the television [advertising, publishing ] industry テレビ [広告, 出版 ]の仕事をしている ▸ work part (-)time as a waitress パートでウェイトレスの仕事をしている ▸ Who do you work for ?どちらにお勤めですか (!会社名を尋ねる言い方; ≒What company are you with? ) 2 働く , 労働する , 仕事 [作業 ]をする ▸ I often have to work late .残業しなければならないことが多い ▸ How did you find working with young people? 若い人たちと一緒に仕事をしてみてどうでしたか ▸ I'm working .今仕事中です ▸ work nights [weekends ]夜勤 [週末勤務 ]をする ▸ Some companies allow their employees to work at [from ] home .会社によっては社員に在宅勤務を認めている ▸ work with a shovel シャベルを使って作業する .3 勉強する ; (忍耐強く絶えず )努力する , 専念する ▸ You've got to work harder at school .学校ではもっとしっかり勉強しないといけないぞ ▸ work toward (s ) a solution 解決に向かって努力する ▸ work for peace 平和の実現に尽くす ▸ work tirelessly to make the project successful その計画を成功させるために一生懸命努力する .4 〈機械体の一部などが〉 (ちゃんと )機能する , 作動する, 運転する (operate ); 〈頭脳が〉働く , 活動する ▸ Our telephone isn't working .家の電話が故障している ▸ get the broken toy working again 壊れた玩具をもう一度動かす ▸ He could not get his brain to work right .彼は頭をちゃんと働かせることができなかった .5 〈計画手段機構などが〉うまく働く , 効果がある ; 〈薬などが〉効く ▸ This drug worked best .この薬が最も効いた ▸ The new system is working well .その新制度はうまく機能している ▸ work like magic [a charm ]まるで魔法のようにうまくいく ▸ Revision of the rules will work in his favor .ルールの改正は彼にとって有利になるだろう .6 【人の】手助けをする , «…のために » 働く «with, among » ▸ work with AIDS patients エイズ患者のために働く ▸ work among the poor 貧しい人たちの手助けをする 7 【材料物質で】仕事をする , «…を » 加工する «in , with » ▸ work with silver 銀細工をする 8 〖～ C 〗(少しずつ )動いて [圧力が加わって ]C 〈状態〉になる ▸ The car's fuel tank had worked loose and dropped off .その車の燃料タンクがゆるんで落っこちた .9 ｟かたく｠〈口などが〉ぴくぴく動く, ひきつる .10 〈イースト菌などが〉発酵する .他動詞 1 (特にセールスなどで )〈地域〉を担当する ; 〈場所〉を仕事場とする ; 〈仕事任務〉を受け持つ ▸ They work south of the city .彼らはその町の南部を受け持っている ▸ work the kitchen together 一緒に台所で働く ▸ work the fields 畑仕事をする .2 〈機械など〉を動かす , 操作する , 使う ; 〈体の一部筋肉〉を動かす ; 〈群衆など〉の気持ちを動かす ▸ The boy knows how to work the computer .その少年はコンピュータができる .3 〈人〉を働かせる , こき使う ▸ Our boss worked us to exhaustion .上司は私たちをへとへとになるまで働かせた .4 〈人物〉を (だんだんと ) «…に » する «into » ; 〈人〉をしだいに興奮させる (rouse )▸ work oneself into a state of outrage しだいに怒りがこみ上げてくる ▸ The screw has worked its way loose .ねじがだんだんゆるくなってきた ▸ work one's own experience into the stories 自身の経験を物語にまとめる .5 〖～ one's way 〗徐々に [努力して ] «…に » (ゆっくり )進む «into , to , up to , through » ▸ He started the business in 1950 and has worked his way to the top .彼は1950年にその仕事を始め, ついにトップに上りつめた ▸ The undercover cop worked his way into the gang .その私服刑事はどうにか暴力団にもぐりこんだ ▸ work one's way forward into the room 苦労しながら前進して部屋の中に入る 6 〈材料〉を «…に » 加工する «into » ▸ Neanderthals worked pieces of flint into knives .ネアンデルタール人は火打ち石の破片を加工してナイフを作った .7 〈土地〉を耕す , 耕作する (cultivate )▸ The farmer has worked this land for several years .農夫は数年間この土地を耕してきた .8 〈被害奇跡など〉を生ぜしめる , もたらす , 与える (cause )▸ work a miracle 奇跡を起こす .9 ｟米かたく｠〈問題〉を解く , 計算する (solve )(↓work A out )▸ work a calculus problem 微積分の問題を解く .10 …をこねる (knead )▸ work a toothpick around one's teeth 歯のまわりを楊枝（ようじ）でつつく 11 〈鉱山〉を掘る .12 〈ビールワイン〉を発酵させる .w ó rk against A 1 A 〈人物〉に反対する, Aを阻止しようとする .2 A 〈人〉に不利に働く .w ò rk (a )r ó und A A 〈問題など〉を克服しようと努める .w ò rk (a )r ó und to A A 〈話題〉の方に話を持っていく .w ó rk at A 1 A 〈職場〉で働く (↑自動詞 1 ); A 〈機器〉で仕事をする ▸ work at a Xerox machine コピー機で作業をする 2 A 〈学習仕事〉に (しっかり )取り組む (!Aは名詞動名 ) ▸ I keep working at it .努力を続けているよ .w ò rk aw á y がんばる, よく働く, (やめずに )仕事を続ける .w ò rk one's b ú tt [t á il, á ss ] off ｟くだけて｠身を粉にして働く .w ò rk d ó wn 1 だんだんと減らす .2 しだいに低くなる .3 (社会的職業的 )階級が下がる .w ó rk for A 1 ↑自動詞 1 .2 (日程予定などが )A 〈人〉にとって好都合である ▸ “Shall we meet at 9:00 tomorrow? ” “Works for me. ”「明日の9時に会おう」「いいわよ」.w ò rk í n 〈ほこりなどが〉だんだんと入り込む .w ò rk A í n [í n A ]1 A 〈情報冗談など〉を〈演説本などに〉もりこむ .2 A 〈針など〉をゆっくりと差し込む .3 A 〈人〉のために時間の都合をつける ▸ He's very busy, but he'll work you in at 3:00 .彼は忙しい人だけれど3時にはあなたに会ってくれるよ .w ó rk into A 〈ほこりなどが〉Aにだんだんと入り込む .w ó rk A into B 1 A 〈情報冗談など〉をB 〈演説本など〉にもりこむ .2 A 〈物質〉をB 〈物質〉とこねて混ぜる .w ò rk í n with A A 〈人〉とうまくやっていく .w ó rk it ＝w ò rk th í ngs ｟くだけて｠1 (しばしば不正に )うまくやってのける, なんとかする .2 手配する .3 «…になるように » 取り計らう, 準備を整える «so that 節 » .w ò rk A ó ff [ó ff A ]A 〈不満怒りなど〉を晴らす, 解消する ; A 〈食物〉を消化する ; A 〈借金など〉を働いて返す, 償う ▸ work off one's frustrations 欲求不満を解消する ▸ work off tar stains タールのしみを消す .w ó rk on A 1 (制作修理解決のために )A 〈物〉に取り組む ▸ You've worked on quite a few comedies .あなたはたくさんのコメディを手がけていますね ▸ work on a car 車の修理をする ▸ We have to work on these problems together .我々はこの問題に一緒に取り組まなくてはならない .2 A 〈人〉に影響を及ぼす, 効果がある, 効く ; «…するように » A 〈人〉に働きかける «to do » ▸ work on him to apply for the job その仕事に応募するよう彼を説得する w ò rk ó ut 1 〈支払い経費などが〉 «…に » なる, 達する «at , to » ▸ The payment works out at [to ] 10 pounds a month .支払いは月に10ポンドになる .2 〈物事が〉うまくいく, …の結果になる ▸ It worked out well [badly ].それはうまくいった [うまくいかなかった ]▸ Things haven't worked out between Ruth and me .ルースと私の間はうまくいっていない ▸ work out for the best 最高の結果になる .3 体を鍛える, 練習する ▸ I work out in the gym two or three times a week .週に2, 3度ジムで運動します .w ò rk A ó ut [ó ut A ]1 A 〈金額量など〉を計算する ▸ He worked out how much money he had .彼は手持ちの金がどれくらいあるか計算した .2 ｟主に英｠A 〈人〉(の行動 )を理解する ; «…か » わかる, 理解する «wh 節 » ; A 〈問題〉を解決する ▸ You have to work it out for yourself .(人に頼らずに )自分で考えないとだめだよ ▸ It worked itself out .自然とうまくいった ▸ I can't work John out .ジョンのやることは理解できない .3 Aを計画する, (前もって )よく考える ▸ Secretly she already had it all worked out .こっそりと彼女はちゃんと手はずを整えていた .4 A 〈炭鉱など〉を掘り尽くす .w ò rk A ó ver ｟くだけて｠A 〈人〉を痛めつける, なぐったりけったりする .w ò rk th í ngs ＝work it .w ò rk A ú p [ú p A ]1 A 〈熱意興味勇気など〉を奮い起こす, かきたてる, 刺激する ▸ work up one's courage to ask him 思い切って彼に尋ねてみる .2 (運動などをして )A 〈食欲〉を増す .3 «…のことで » A 〈人〉を興奮させる, 扇動する «over » ▸ Don't get worked up over the game .試合のことでそんなに興奮するなよ ▸ work oneself up 興奮する, かっとなる .4 A 〈作品など〉を磨き上げる, 洗練させる .w ò rk ú p to A A 〈事行為〉にしだいに向かう, 気持ちを高める (!Aは名詞動名 ) ▸ First I wrote essays, then I worked up to writing novels .まず最初にエッセイを書き, それから小説を書く段階に進んだ .名詞複～s /-s /1 U (職業としての )仕事 , 勤め口 , 職 (employment )▸ She returned to work soon after the birth .彼女は出産後すぐに復職した ▸ after work 仕事の後で ▸ I've been out of work for five months now .失業して5か月になります ▸ It's not my line of work .それは私に合った仕事ではない ▸ dress for work 仕事に行くため着替える ▸ leave for work 仕事に出かける ▸ find work (as a teacher )(教師の )仕事を見つける .2 U 職場 , 会社 , 仕事先 (!この意味では無冠詞 ) ▸ Jeff is at work .ジェフは仕事に出かけている ▸ go to work 仕事に出かける ▸ leave work at 5:00 5時に会社を出る 3 U (労働としての )仕事 , (手 )作業 , 活動 , 課題 ▸ secretarial work 秘書業務 ▸ legal work 法的手続き ▸ do voluntary work ボランティア活動をする ▸ Maybe we'd better get down to work .そろそろ仕事に取りかかった方がよさそうだな ▸ I have a day's work to do .1日 (かかるほどの )仕事がある ▸ Many hands make light work .｟ことわざ｠人手が多ければ仕事は楽になる ▸ a moment's [minute's, second's ] work すぐにできること ▸ work clothes 仕事着 ▸ work conditions [practices ]労働環境 [慣習 ]▸ work hours 勤務時間 .類義 workとjob, task, labor work は「仕事」を表す最も一般的な語で, 肉体的作業精神的作業のいずれにも用いる. job は「収入を伴う仕事」. workもこの意味で用いるが, jobは C でworkは U . task は「課せられた仕事」, labor は「肉体的に骨の折れる仕事」を表す .4 U 業績 , (これまでの )活動内容, (やってきた )仕事 ; (仕事の )手際, 手並み ▸ I've read all about your work .君のこれまでの業績をすべて読ませてもらった ▸ It's a great piece of work .それはすばらしい仕事だ .5 U 勉強 , «…についての » 研究 «on , in » ▸ All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy .｟ことわざ｠勉強ばかりで遊ばないと子供はばかになる ; 「よく学びよく遊べ」.6 C (芸術的 )作品 ; 著作 ▸ the complete works of Jane Austen ジェーンオースティン全集 ▸ the works of nature 自然 .7 ｟話｠〖the (whole ) ～s; 複数扱い〗何もかも , 全部 ▸ Oh, it's great. Big open rooms, balconies, fireplace ―the works .まあ, すばらしいわ . 広々した部屋, バルコニー, 暖炉 ―何もかも .8 〖～s; 複合要素; 単複両扱い〗(複数の家屋から成る )工場 ▸ the gas works ガス工場 .9 〖～s; 複数扱い〗(大規模な )建築 [土木 ]工事 , 作業 ▸ engineering works 土木工事 ▸ irrigation works 灌漑（かんがい）工事 .10 U (力などの )作用 , 働き ; 行為 , しわざ ▸ The crime was the work of outsiders .その犯罪は外部の者のしわざだった .11 〖～s; 複数扱い〗(時計機械などの )仕掛け , 機構 , 動いている部分 .à ll in a [the ] d à y's w ó rk →day .at w ó rk 1 会社で働いて, 勤務中で (↑名詞 2 )▸ Men at work .｟掲示｠工事中 2 〈機械などが〉稼動中で .3 〈力が〉作用して, 働いて .4 «…に » 取り組んで, 取りかかって «on » ▸ He is at work on a new album .彼は新しいアルバムの制作に取りかかっている .bung ù p the w ó rks ｟くだけて｠おしゃかにする, 台無しにする .g è t the w ó rks ｟米俗｠ひどい目にあう ; 殺される .g ì ve A the w ó rks 1 A 〈人〉を殺す, ひどい目にあわせる .2 A 〈人〉にぶちまける .3 A 〈人〉にできるだけのことをしてやる .gum ù p the w ó rks ＝bung up the work s .h à ve one's w ó rk c ù t ó ut ｟話｠(時間の限られた )難しい仕事を引き受ける .in the w ó rks ｟主に米話｠進行中で, 準備中で ; 完成間近で ▸ projects in the works 現在進行中の計画 .jam ù p the w ó rks ＝bung up the work s .m à ke h à rd w ó rk of A Aを難しい仕事に見せる ; Aに骨を折る .m à ke l ì ght w ó rk of A Aを軽々とこなす .m à ke sh ò rt w ó rk of A ｟くだけて｠1 A 〈仕事など〉を (すばやく )処理する, A 〈食事〉を手早く食べる .2 A 〈人〉を簡単に負かす, A 〈人〉にやすやすと勝つ .m à ke w ó rk 騒ぎの種になる .N ì ce [G ò od ] w ó rk!お見事, すばらしい出来栄えだ (!このworkは「手際」の意味 ) .ò ff w ó rk 仕事を休んで, 休暇を取って ▸ I'm going to get off work tomorrow .明日は仕事を休むつもりだ ò il the w ó rks ｟英｠(わいろなどを使って )事を順調に進める .s è t to w ó rk «…する /…に関する /…を使って » 仕事を始める [に取りかかる ] «do ing , to do /on /with » ▸ He immediately set to work sweeping the floor .彼はすぐに床を掃き始めた sh ò ot the w ó rks ｟米俗｠いちかばちかやってみる .～́ c à mp 1 (宗教団体などの )奉仕活動キャンプ .2 野外労働囚人用キャンプ .～́ è thic ｟主に米｠(労働を善とする )労働観, 仕事 [労働 ]至上主義 ; 労働倫理, 労働意欲 .～́ exp è rience 実務経験, 職歴 ; ｟英｠職業体験プログラム (期間 ).～́ f à rm 軽犯罪者更生用農場 .～́ f ò rce ＝workforce .～́ h à zard 労働災害の原因となるもの .～̀ in pr ó cess [pr ó gress ]仕掛品 (勘定 ).～̀ of á rt 芸術作品, 美術品 .～́ p è rmit (外国人への )就労許可 (証 ).～́ rel è ase 労働釈放, 通勤刑〘刑期中に刑務所外で仕事をさせる〙.～́ s c ò uncil [comm ì ttee ]1 工場委員会 .2 (企業内の )労使協議会 .～́ sh à ring ワークシェアリング, 仕事の分担共有施策〘失業対策〙.～́ sh è et (作業の計画時間指示などを記入する )作業票, 作業予定票 ; 〘会計〙精算票 ; 練習問題用紙 .～́ s ò ng ワークソング, 作業歌 .～́ st ù dy 作業能率研究 .～́ s ù rface ＝worktop .

workable

w ó rk a ble 形容詞 1 〈計画などが〉実行可能な ▸ a workable scheme 実行可能な計画 2 〈機械などが〉動かすことができる, 運転できる .3 〈材料などが〉加工できる, 細工できる .4 〈工場などが〉経営できる, 操業できる .

workaday

work a day /wə́ː r kədèɪ /形容詞〖名詞の前で〗1 (休日に対して )仕事日の, 平日の (!今はworkdayの方が普通 ) .2 平凡な, 単調な, つまらない .

workaholic

work a hol ic /wə̀ː r kəhɑ́lɪk |-hɔ́l -/名詞 C ｟くだけて｠仕事中毒の人, 仕事の虫 .

workbasket

w ó rk b à sket 名詞 C 裁縫道具箱 .

workbench

w ó rk b è nch 名詞 C 作業台, 工作台 .

workbook

w ó rk b ò ok 名詞 C 1 (学習用 )ワークブック, 練習帳 .2 (器具などの )取り扱い説明書 .3 (工事などの )施工指図書, 作業手引書 .

workday

w ó rk d à y 名詞複～s C ｟主に米｠1 仕事 [勤務 ]日, 平日 (↔holiday ).2 1日の労働 [勤務 ]時間 ▸ an 8-hour workday 1日8時間労働 .形容詞〖名詞の前で〗仕事日の, 平日の .

worked(-)up

w ò rked (-)ú p 形容詞〖be ～〗 «…で » 興奮した, 気の立った, いらいらした «about , over » .

worker

work er /wə́ː r kə r /→work 名詞複～s /-z /C 1 〖通例複合語で〗労働者 , 従業員 ; 〖通例～s 〗(経営者側に対して )労働者 ; 〖the ～s 〗労働者階級 (の人々 )▸ an office worker 会社員, 事務職員, サラリーマン (!「サラリーマン」や「OL 」は和製英語 ) (→woman 事情 (1 ))▸ a skilled [an unskilled ] worker 熟練 [未熟練 ]労働者 ▸ a construction worker 建設作業員 ▸ a factory worker 工員 .2 〖通例複合語で〗活動家, 研究者 ▸ a social worker ソーシャルワーカー .3 〖通例形容詞を伴って〗(仕事勉強ぶりなどが )…な人 ▸ a hard worker 勤勉家 .4 ｟くだけた話｠働き者 .5 働きバチ (worker bee ); 働きアリ (worker ant ).～̀ s' compens á tion 労働災害補償 (金 [制度 ]).

workfare

w ó rk f à re 名詞 U 勤労福祉制度〘社会福祉受給者に, 社会奉仕への従事職業訓練の受講を義務づける制度〙.

workflow

w ó rk fl ò w 名詞 U 作業の流れ, ワークフロー〘事業所事業部門従業員などの仕事の流れ [量 ]〙.

workforce

w ó rk f ò rce 名詞 C 〖通例the ～〗(国地域の )総労働人口, 労働力 .

workhorse

w ó rk h ò rse 名詞 C 1 使役馬 .2 ｟くだけて｠働き者, 仕事の鬼 .3 (仕事上 )便利な器材 [車 ].

workhouse

w ó rk h ò use 名詞 C 1 ｟米｠矯正院, 少年院 .2 ｟英｠(昔の )救貧院 .

work-in

work-in /wə́ː r kɪ̀n /名詞 C ワークイン, (労働者の )職場占拠〘自主的生産管理を戦術とした労働争議〙.

working

work ing /wə́ː r kɪŋ /→work 形容詞比較なし〖名詞の前で〗1 働いている , 仕事をもっている ; 労働 [仕事 ](上 )の ; ｟やや古｠肉体労働に従事する ▸ working mothers 仕事をもつ母親たち ▸ the working population 労働人口 ▸ improve working conditions 労働条件を改善する ▸ working environment 労働 [職場 ]環境 ▸ a good working relationship よい仕事上の関係 .2 仕事 [作業 ]用の ▸ working clothes 仕事着, 作業服 (work clothes ).3 (完全ではないが )実用上十分な, 基本的な ; (作業議論などでの )基礎となる, 仮の ▸ have a working knowledge of French フランス語を十分に使えるだけの知識がある ▸ a working title (制作中の映画小説などの )仮題 ▸ a working hypothesis 作業仮説 .4 (機械を )作動させる, 動かす〈部分など〉▸ working parts of a machine 機械の可動部分 .5 仕事を兼ねた〈食事など〉▸ a working breakfast 用談を交えた朝食 .6 (観光用趣味ではなく )事業としての .名詞 1 C 〖通例 the ～s 〗(機械などの )動き方, 仕掛け ; (機構などの )働き, 仕組み ▸ the inner workings of the mind 心の内部の働き .2 C 〖通例～s 〗(鉱山採石場の )採掘場 , 作業場 ; U 採掘 .3 U 仕事 , 労働 .～̀ c á pital 〘経〙運転資本 ; 流動資本 .～́ cl à ss 〖the ～(es ); 集合的に; 単複両扱い〗労働者階級 .～́ d à y (!｟主に英｠) ＝workday .～̀ dr á wing 設計 [作業 ]図 .～́ g ì rl (!｟くだけてやや古｠) 1 ｟遠回しに｠売春婦 .2 ｟時にけなして｠仕事をもつ若い女性 .～́ gr ò up 1 ｟英｠〖集合的に; 単複両扱い〗 «…についての » 専門調査委員会 «on » .2 作業部会 .3 (兵士囚人などの )作業班 .～́ h ò liday ワーキングホリデー〘就労ビザを取らずに外国人が働ける制度〙.～́ h ò urs (1日あたりの )労働時間 .～̀ l í fe (一生のうちの )就労期 ; (機械などの )耐用年数 .～̀ maj ó rity ｟英｠〖単数形で〗議会決議に必要なだけの多数 .～̀ m é mory 〘心〙作動記憶 ; 〘コンピュ〙ワーキングメモリ .～́ men's cl ù b 労働者クラブ〘パブに似た社交場〙.～̀ m ó del 実動模型 .～ order /-́--̀ -|-̀--́ -/(機械などが )正常に作動 [運転 ]できる状態 ▸ be in good working order 順調に作動している .～́ p à per 1 (法律教育医療などの )調査委員会報告書 .2 ｟米｠〖～s 〗就業調書〘16歳未満外国生まれの者の就労に必要な書類〙.～́ p à rty ｟英｠＝working group .～̀ p ó or 〖the ～; 複数扱い〗勤労貧困者 (層 ), 低収入労働者 .～̀ st í ff ｟米俗｠(生活のために働く )一般労働者 .～̀ w é ek ｟英｠＝workweek .

working-class

w ò rking-cl á ss 形容詞〖名詞の前で〗労働者階級の .

workingman

w ó rking m à n /-mæ̀n /名詞複 -men C 労働者, 工員 (｟男女共用｠worker ).

working-over

w ó rking- ò ver 名詞 U ｟くだけて｠たたく [打ち負かす ]こと .

workingwoman

w ó rking w ò man 名詞複 -women C 女性労働者, 女子工員 (｟男女共用｠worker ).

workload

w ó rk l ò ad 名詞 C (人機械の一定期間内の )仕事量, 作業負担量 .

workman

work man /wə́ː r kmən /→work 名詞複 -men /-mən /C 1 (建築修理関係の )(肉体 )労働者 , 職人 (｟男女共用｠worker, artisan ).2 〖形容詞を伴って〗…の仕事をする人 (｟男女共用｠worker )▸ He is a careful workman .彼は入念な仕事をする人だ (≒He works carefully. ).w ò rkmen's compens á tion ＝workers' compensation .

workmanlike

w ó rkman l ì ke 形容詞職人らしい ; 職人ふうの ; 腕の達者な (skillful ).

workmanship

w ó rk man sh ì p /-ʃɪ̀p /名詞 U 1 (職人としての )腕前, 技量, 技能 (｟男女共用｠artisanship, craft, skill ); (製作品などの )出来栄え ▸ a work of exquisite workmanship きわめて精巧な出来栄えの作品 .2 細工 ; (製 )作品 (｟男女共用｠craft ).

workmate

w ó rk m à te 名詞 C ｟主に英｠仕事仲間, (職場の )同僚 .

workout

w ó rk ò ut 名詞 C 1 (スポーツの )トレーニング, 練習 .2 (機械などの )点検 ; (適性などの )試験, テスト .

workpeople

w ó rk p è ople 名詞｟主に英｠〖集合的に; 複数扱い〗労働者, (特に )工員 .

workplace

w ó rk pl à ce 名詞 C 仕事場, 作業場, 職場 .

workroom

w ó rk r ò om 名詞 C 仕事部屋, 作業室 .

workshop

work shop /wə́ː r kʃɑ̀p |-ʃɔ̀p /〖2 の初出例は1937年〗名詞複～s /-s /C 1 (機械仕事などを行う )作業場, (小規模の )工場 .2 〖しばしば修飾語を伴って〗研究 [研修 ]会, ワークショップ .

work-shy

w ó rk-sh ỳ 形容詞｟英｠仕事嫌いの, 怠惰な (lazy ).

worksite

w ó rk s ì te 名詞 C 仕事場, 職場 ; 仕事の現場 .

workstation

w ó rk st à tion 名詞 C 〘コンピュ〙ワークステーション .

work-study

w ó rk-st ù dy 名詞 U ｟米｠労働就学 .～́ pr ò gram 労働就学課程〘高校大学内で働きながら学ぶ; 実務経験が得られ, 学費が稼げる〙.

worktable

w ó rk t à ble 名詞 C 仕事台 ; (引き出し付きの )裁縫台 .

worktop

w ó rk t ò p 名詞 C (台所の )調理台 .

work-to-rule

w ò rk-to-r ú le 名詞 C ｟英｠〖通例単数形で〗順法闘争 (｟米｠slowdown ).

workup

w ó rk ù p 名詞 C 〘医〙精密検査 .

workweek

w ó rk w è ek 名詞 C ｟米｠〖単数形で〗週労働時間 [日数 ](｟英｠working week ).