work
verbDefinition of work
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a: to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salaryworks in publishing
b: to perform or carry through a task requiring sustained effort or continuous repeated operationsworked all day over a hot stove
c: to exert oneself physically or mentally especially in sustained effort for a purpose or under compulsion or necessity
2: to function or operate according to plan or designhinges work better with oil
3: to produce a desired effect or result : SUCCEEDa plan that will work
4: to exert an influence or tendency
5a: to make way slowly and with difficulty : move or progress laboriouslyworked up to the presidency
b: to sail to windward
6a: to move slightly in relation to another part
b: to get into a specified condition by slow or imperceptible movementsthe knot worked loose
c: to be in agitation or restless motion
7: to permit of being worked : react in a specified way to being workedthis wood works easily
1: to set or keep in motion, operation, or activity : cause to operate or producea pump worked by handwork farmland
2: to bring to pass : EFFECTwork miracles
3: to solve (a problem) by reasoning or calculation —often used with out
4a: to cause to toil or laborworked their horses nearly to death
b: to make use of : EXPLOIT
c: to control or guide the operation ofswitches are worked from a central tower
5a: to carry on an operation or perform a job through, at, in, or alongthe peddler worked the cornera sportscaster hired to work the game
b: to greet and talk with in a friendly way in order to ingratiate oneself or achieve a purposepoliticians working the crowdworked the room
6: to pay for or achieve with labor or serviceworked my way through collegeworked my way up in the company
7a: to prepare for use by stirring or kneading
b: to bring into a desired form by a gradual process of cutting, hammering, scraping, pressing, or stretchingwork cold steel
9a: to get (oneself or an object) into or out of a condition or position by gradual stages
work on