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1. Dictionary

   work

   /wərk/

   noun

   • 1. activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result: "he was tired after a day's work" Similar labortoilexertioneffortslogdrudgerythe sweat of one's browindustryserviceinformal:grindsweatdonkey workspadeworkelbow greasegraftfagyakkaarchaic:travailmoilOpposite leisurerest
   • ▪ mental or physical activity as a means of earning income; employment: "I'm still looking for work" Similar employmentjobday jobpostpositionsituationmeans of earning one's livingoccupationprofessioncareerbusinesstradelinevocationcallingarchaic:employ
   • ▪ 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 theater after work"
   • 2. a task or tasks to be undertaken; something a person or thing has to do: "they made sure the work was progressing smoothly" Similar tasksjobsdutiesassignmentscommissionsprojectschores
   • ▪ the materials for a task: "she frequently took work home with her"
   • ▪ cosmetic plastic surgery: informal "between you and me, I think he's had some work done"
   • ▪ good or moral deeds: "the Clapham sect was concerned with works rather than with faith"
   • 3. something done or made: "her work hangs in all the main American collections" Similar handiworkdoingactdeedfeatperformance
   • ▪ the result of the action of a specified person or thing: "the bombing had been the work of a German-based cell"
   • ▪ a literary or musical composition or other piece of fine art: "a work of fiction" Similar compositionpiececreationachievementaccomplishmentwork of artopusoeuvre
   • ▪ all literary or musical pieces by a particular author, composer, or artist, regarded collectively: "the works of Schubert fill several feet of shelf space" Similar writingsoeuvrecanonoutput
   • ▪ a piece of embroidery, sewing, or knitting, typically made using a specified stitch or method.
   • ▪ an architectural or engineering structure such as a bridge or dam.
   • ▪ the record of the successive calculations made in solving a mathematical problem: "show your work on a separate sheet of paper"
   • 4. a place or premises for industrial activity, typically manufacturing: British "he found a job in the ironworks" Similar factoryplantmanufacturing complexmillfoundryyardindustrial unitbusiness unitworkshopshop
   • 5. the operative part of a clock or other machine: "she could almost hear the tick of its works" Similar mechanismmachineryworkingsworking partspartsmovementactioninformal:innardsinsides
   • 6. a defensive structure: "just north of the fort were trenches and the freshly reconstructed patriot siege works"
   • 7. the exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change.
   • 8. everything needed, desired, or expected: informal "the heavens put on a show: sheet lightning, hailstones—the works" Similar everythingthe full treatmentinformal:everything but the kitchen sinkthe lotthe whole shooting matchthe whole (kit and) caboodlethe whole shebangthe whole nine yardsthe full montythe whole ball of wax

   verb

   • 1. be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a result; do work: "she has been working so hard" Similar toillaborexert oneselfslave (away)plod awaywork one's fingers to the bonework like a Trojan/dogwork day and nightkeep at itkeep one's nose to the grindstoneinformal:slog (away)beaver awayplug awaypeg awayput one's back into somethingwork one's guts outwork one's socks offknock oneself outsweat bloodkill oneselfgraftfagbullockvulgar slang:work one's balls/arse offwork one's ass/butt offarchaic:drudgetravailmoilOpposite restplay
   • ▪ be employed in a specified occupation or field: "he worked as a waiter in a rather shabby restaurant" Similar be employedhave a jobearn one's livinghold down a jobdo businessfollow/ply one's trade
   • ▪ set to or keep at work: "Jane is working you too hard"
   • ▪ solve (a puzzle or mathematical problem): "she spent her days working crosswords"
   • ▪ practice one's occupation or operate in or at (a particular place): "I worked a few clubs and so forth"
   • 2. (of a machine or system) operate or function, especially properly or effectively: "his cell phone doesn't work unless he goes to a high point" Similar functiongorunoperateperformbe in working orderinformal:behave
   • ▪ (of a machine or a part of it) run; go through regular motions: "it's designed to go into a special “rest” state when it's not working"
   • ▪ cause (a device or machine) to operate: "teaching customers how to work a PC" Similar operateusehandlecontrolmanipulatemaneuverdriverundirectplywield
   • 3. (of a plan or method) have the desired result or effect: "the desperate ploy had worked" Similar succeedbe successfulwork outturn out wellgo as plannedhave the desired resultget resultsbe effectivetake effectbe efficaciousinformal:come offpay offdo the trickdo the businessturn the trickOpposite fail
   • ▪ bring about; produce as a result: "with a dash of blusher here and there, you can work miracles" Similar bring aboutaccomplishachieveproducedoperformcarry outimplementexecutecreateengendercontriveeffect
   • ▪ make efforts to achieve something; campaign: "they are dedicated to working for a better future for the generations to come"
   • ▪ arrange or contrive: informal "the chairman was prepared to work it for Phillip if he was interested"
   • ▪ use one's persuasive power to stir the emotions of (a person or group of people): "the born politician's art of working a crowd" Similar stir (up)excitedrivemovespurrousefiregalvanizewhip upinflameinciteagitate
   • 4. bring (a material or mixture) to a desired shape or consistency by hammering, kneading, or some other method: "work the mixture into a paste with your hands" Similar kneadsqueezeformshapefashionmoldmodelmixstirblend
   • ▪ produce artistic pieces using a particular material or medium: "he works in clay over a very strong frame"
   • ▪ produce (an article or design) using a specified material or sewing stitch: "the castle itself is worked in tent stitch"
   • ▪ cultivate (land) or extract materials from (a mine or quarry): "contracts and leases to work the mines" Similar cultivatefarmtillplowexploit
   • 5. move or cause to move gradually or with difficulty into another position, typically by means of constant movement or pressure: "comb from tip to root, working out the knots at the end" Similar maneuvermanipulatenegotiateguideedgemaneuvermakethreadwindweave
   • ▪ (of a person's features) move violently or convulsively: "hair wild, mouth working furiously" Similar twitchquivertwistmove spasmodicallyconvulse
   • ▪ (of joints, such as those in a wooden ship) loosen and flex under repeated stress.
   • ▪ make progress to windward, with repeated tacking: "trying to work to windward in light airs"
   • 6. bring into a specified state, especially an emotional state: "Harold had worked himself into a minor rage" Similar stir (up)excitedrivemovespurrousefiregalvanizewhip upinflameinciteagitate

   Word Origin Old Englishweorc (noun), wyrcan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch werk and German Werk, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek ergon.

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • W

     4

   • O

     1

   • R

     1

   • K

     5

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishTHE WORKS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   THE WORKS definition: 1. everything that you might want or expect to find in a particular situation: 2. an industrial…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › the worksThe works Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › the works

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   The meaning of THE WORKS is the moving parts of a machine —sometimes used figuratively. How to use the works in a sentence.

4. idioms.thefreedictionary.com › the+worksThe works - Idioms by The Free Dictionary

   idioms.thefreedictionary.com › the+works

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   the works. 1. The entirety of what's available; all the related elements of something. Wow, they really offer the works at this ice cream bar. There's much more than just whipped cream and sprinkles here! I want a traditional wedding, with the cake, the dress—the works. 2. slang A very thorough or severe beating.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › the--worksTHE WORKS Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › the--works

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   the works. Everything, the full range of possibilities, as in He ordered a pizza with the works , or All right, tell me, give me the works on it . This usage derives from works in the sense of “a complete set of parts for a machine or mechanism.”. [ Colloquial ; late 1800s] A beating or other severe treatment.

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishTHE WORKS definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   1. the working parts or mechanism ( of a watch, clock, etc.) 2. US, Informal. a. all possible accessories, extras, etc. b. everything that can be included. : usually the whole works. See full dictionary entry for work. Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

7. ell.stackexchange.com › questions › 100090comprehension - Why did Constantinople get the works? -- what...

   ell.stackexchange.com › questions › 100090

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   The works is a colloquial expression meaning the entirety of something: a hamburger with the works, for instance, is a hamburger with all available condiments and relishes. To "get the works" is typically employed with legal sentences: to be sentenced to the most severe punishment permitted.

8. english.stackexchange.com › questions › 556169How did "the works" come to mean "everything"? [closed]

   english.stackexchange.com › questions › 556169

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   Dec 30, 2020 · According to Dictionary.com, "the works" is a modified version of "works" that was promoted from mechanic lingo: This usage derives from works in the sense of “a complete set of parts for a machine or mechanism.” [Colloquial; late 1800s] Thanks to mechanics, you can say, I want a pizza with the works. Share.

9. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › the-worksthe works | meaning of the works in Longman Dictionary of...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › the-works

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   the works meaning, definition, what is the works: the moving parts of a machine: Learn more.

10. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishWORKS definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

    www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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    1. (often functioning as singular) a place where a number of people are employed, such as a factory. 2. the sum total of a writer's or artist's achievements, esp when considered together. the works of Shakespeare. 3. the deeds of a person, esp virtuous or moral deeds performed as religious acts. works of charity. 4.

11. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishIN THE WORKS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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    in the works. idiom informal. Add to word list. Add to word list. in the process of being planned or done: Changes to the system are already in the works. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Planning, expecting and arranging. accidentally.