1.  Exertion of strength or faculties; physical or intellectual effort directed to an end; industrial activity; toil; employment; sometimes, specifically, physical labor. [1913 Webster]
"Man hath his daily work of body or mind
Appointed." [1913 Webster]

2.  The matter on which one is at work; that upon which one spends labor; material for working upon; subject of exertion; the thing occupying one; business; duty; as, to take up one's work; to drop one's work. [1913 Webster]
"Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand
That you yet know not of." [1913 Webster]
"In every work that he began . . . he did it with all his heart, and prospered." [1913 Webster]

3.  That which is produced as the result of labor; anything accomplished by exertion or toil; product; performance; fabric; manufacture; in a more general sense, act, deed, service, effect, result, achievement, feat. [1913 Webster]
"To leave no rubs or blotches in the work." [1913 Webster]
"The work some praise,
And some the architect." [1913 Webster]
"Fancy . . .
Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams." [1913 Webster]
"The composition or dissolution of mixed bodies . . . is the chief work of elements." [1913 Webster]

4.  Specifically: (a) That which is produced by mental labor; a composition; a book; as, a work, or the works, of Addison. (b) Flowers, figures, or the like, wrought with the needle; embroidery. [1913 Webster]
"I am glad I have found this napkin; . . .
I'll have the work ta'en out,
And give 't Iago." [1913 Webster]

5.  Manner of working; management; treatment; as, unskillful work spoiled the effect. Bp. Stillingfleet. [1913 Webster]

6.  The causing of motion against a resisting force. The amount of work is proportioned to, and is measured by, the product of the force into the amount of motion along the direction of the force. See Conservation of energy, under Conservation, Unit of work, under Unit, also Foot pound, Horse power, Poundal, and Erg. [1913 Webster]
"Energy is the capacity of doing work . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another." [1913 Webster]

7.  Ore before it is dressed. Raymond. [1913 Webster]

8.  Performance of moral duties; righteous conduct. [1913 Webster]
"He shall reward every man according to his works." [1913 Webster]
"Faith, if it hath not works, is dead." [1913 Webster]

9.  Break; twist. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

10.  The causing of motion against a resisting force, measured by the product of the force into the component of the motion resolved along the direction of the force.
"Energy is the capacity of doing work. . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another." [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

11.  Ore before it is dressed. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

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. [1913 Webster]
"O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work,
To match thy goodness?" [1913 Webster]
"Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you." [1913 Webster]
"Whether we work or play, or sleep or wake,
Our life doth pass." [1913 Webster]

2.  Hence, in a general sense, to operate; to act; to perform; as, a machine works well. [1913 Webster]
"We bend to that the working of the heart." [1913 Webster]

3.  Hence, figuratively, to be effective; to have effect or influence; to conduce. [1913 Webster]
"We know that all things work together for good to them that love God." [1913 Webster]
"This so wrought upon the child, that afterwards he desired to be taught." [1913 Webster]
"She marveled how she could ever have been wrought upon to marry him." [1913 Webster]

4.  To carry on business; to be engaged or employed customarily; to perform the part of a laborer; to labor; to toil. [1913 Webster]
"They that work in fine flax . . . shall be confounded." [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"Confused with working sands and rolling waves." [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"Till body up to spirit work, in bounds
Proportioned to each kind." [1913 Webster]

7.  To ferment, as a liquid. [1913 Webster]
"The working of beer when the barm is put in." [1913 Webster]

8.  To act or operate on the stomach and bowels, as a cathartic. [1913 Webster]
"Purges . . . work best, that is, cause the blood so to do, . . . in warm weather or in a warm room." [1913 Webster]

1.  To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to; to prepare for use, or to utilize, by labor. [1913 Webster]
"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." [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"Each herb he knew, that works or good or ill." [1913 Webster]

3.  To produce by slow degrees, or as if laboriously; to bring gradually into any state by action or motion. Milton. [1913 Webster]
"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." [1913 Webster]

4.  To influence by acting upon; to prevail upon; to manage; to lead. Philips. [1913 Webster]

5.  To form with a needle and thread or yarn; especially, to embroider; as, to work muslin. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]
"Knowledge in building and working ships." [1913 Webster]
"Now, Marcus, thy virtue's the proof;
Put forth thy utmost strength, work every nerve." [1913 Webster]
"The mariners all 'gan work the ropes,
Where they were wont to do." [1913 Webster]

7.  To cause to ferment, as liquor. [1913 Webster]
"Tears of joy for your returning spilt,
Work out and expiate our former guilt." [1913 Webster]
"The sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their heads,
Works up more fire and color in their cheeks." [1913 Webster]

work, n. & v.
--n.
1 the application of mental or physical effort to a purpose; the use of energy.
2 a a task to be undertaken. b the materials for this. c (prec. by the; foll. by of) a task occupying (no more than) a specified time (the work of a moment).
3 a thing done or made by work; the result of an action; an achievement; a thing made.
4 a person's employment or occupation etc., esp. as a means of earning income (looked for work; is out of work).
5 a a literary or musical composition. b (in pl.) all such by an author or composer etc.
6 actions or experiences of a specified kind (good work!; this is thirsty work).
7 a (in comb.) things or parts made of a specified material or with specified tools etc. (ironwork; needlework). b archaic needlework.
8 (in pl.) the operative part of a clock or machine.
9 Physics the exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change (convert heat into work).
10 (in pl.) colloq. all that is available; everything needed.
11 (in pl.) operations of building or repair (road works).
12 (in pl.; often treated as sing.) a place where manufacture is carried on.
13 (usu. in pl.) Theol. a meritorious act.
14 (usu. in pl. or in comb.) a defensive structure (earthworks).
15 (in comb.) a ornamentation of a specified kind (poker-work). b articles having this.
--v. (past and past part. worked or (esp. as adj.) wrought)
1 intr. (often foll. by at, on) do work; be engaged in bodily or mental activity.
2 intr. a be employed in certain work (works in industry; works as a secretary). b (foll. by with) be the workmate of (a person).
3 intr. (often foll. by for) make efforts; conduct a campaign (works for peace).
4 intr. (foll. by in) be a craftsman (in a material).
5 intr. operate or function, esp. effectively (how does this machine work?; your idea will not work).
6 intr. (of a part of a machine) run, revolve; go through regular motions.
7 tr. carry on, manage, or control (cannot work the machine).
8 tr. a put or keep in operation or at work; cause to toil (this mine is no longer worked; works the staff very hard). b cultivate (land).
9 tr. bring about; produce as a result (worked miracles).
10 tr. knead, hammer; bring to a desired shape or consistency.
11 tr. do, or make by, needlework etc.
12 tr. & intr. (cause to) progress or penetrate, or make (one's way), gradually or with difficulty in a specified way (worked our way through the crowd; worked the peg into the hole).
13 intr. (foll. by loose etc.) gradually become (loose etc.) by constant movement.
14 tr. artificially excite (worked themselves into a rage).
15 tr. solve (a sum) by mathematics.
16 tr. a purchase with one's labour instead of money (work one's passage). b obtain by labour the money for (one's way through university etc.).
17 intr. (foll. by on, upon) have influence.
18 intr. be in motion or agitated; cause agitation, ferment (his features worked violently; the yeast began to work).
19 intr. Naut. sail against the wind.

Idiom:
at work in action or engaged in work. give a person the works
1 colloq. give or tell a person everything.
2 colloq. treat a person harshly.
3 sl. kill a person. have one's work cut out be faced with a hard task. set to work begin or cause to begin operations. work away (or on) continue to work. work-basket (or -bag etc.) a basket or bag etc. containing sewing materials. work camp a camp at which community work is done esp. by young volunteers. work one's fingers to the bone see BONE. work in find a place for. work it colloq. bring it about; achieve a desired result. work of art a fine picture, poem, or building etc. work off get rid of by work or activity.
work out
1 solve (a sum) or find out (an amount) by calculation.
2 (foll. by at) be calculated (the total works out at 230).
3 give a definite result (this sum will not work out).
4 have a specified result (the plan worked out well).
5 provide for the details of (has worked out a scheme).
6 accomplish or attain with difficulty (work out one's salvation).
7 exhaust with work (the mine is worked out).
8 engage in physical exercise or training.
work over
1 examine thoroughly.
2 colloq. treat with violence. works council esp. Brit. a group of employees representing those employed in a works etc. in discussions with their employers. work-shy disinclined to work. works of supererogation see SUPEREROGATION. work study a system of assessing methods of working so as to achieve the maximum output and efficiency. work table a table for working at, esp. with a sewing-machine. work to rule (esp. as a form of industrial action) follow official working rules exactly in order to reduce output and efficiency. work-to-rule the act or an instance of working to rule.
work up
1 bring gradually to an efficient state.
2 (foll. by to) advance gradually to a climax.
3 elaborate or excite by degrees.
4 mingle (ingredients) into a whole.
5 learn (a subject) by study. work one's will (foll. by on, upon) archaic accomplish one's purpose on (a person or thing). work wonders see WONDER.

Derivative:
workless adj.

Etymology:
OE weorc etc. f. Gmc

N  booklet, writing, work, volume, tome, opuscule, tract, tractate, livret, brochure, libretto, handbook, codex, manual, pamphlet, enchiridion, circular, publication, chap book, part, issue, number livraison, album, portfolio, periodical, serial, magazine, ephemeris, annual, journal, paper, bill, sheet, broadsheet, leaf, leaflet, fly leaf, page, quire, ream, chapter, section, head, article, paragraph, passage, clause, endpapers, frontispiece, cover, binding, folio, quarto, octavo, duodecimo, sextodecimo, octodecimo, encyclopedia, encompilation, library, bibliotheca, press, definitive work, treatise, comprehensive treatise (dissertation), writer, author, litterateur, essayist, journalism, pen, scribbler, the scribbling race, literary hack, Grub-street writer, writer for the press, gentleman of the press, representative of the press, adjective jerker, diaskeaust, ghost, hack writer, ink slinger, publicist, reporter, penny a liner, editor, subeditor, playwright, poet, bookseller, publisher, bibliopole, bibliopolist, librarian, bookstore, bookshop, bookseller's shop, knowledge of books, bibliography, book learning, among the giant fossils of my past, craignez tout d'un auteur en courroux, for authors nobler palms remain, I lived to write and wrote to live, look in thy heart and write, there is no Past so long as Books shall live, the public mind is the creation of the Master-Writ, volumes that I prize above my dukedom.

N  business, occupation, employment, pursuit, what one is doing, what one is about, affair, concern, matter, case, matter in hand, irons in the fire, thing to do, agendum, task, work, job, chore, errand, commission, mission, charge, care, duty, part, role, cue, province, function, lookout, department, capacity, sphere, orb, field, line, walk, walk of life, beat, round, routine, race, career, office, place, post, chargeship, incumbency, living, situation, berth, employ, service, engagement, undertaking, vocation, calling, profession, cloth, faculty, industry, art, industrial arts, craft, mystery, handicraft, trade, exercise, work, avocation, press of business, businesslike, workaday, professional, official, functional, busy, on hand, in hand, in one's hands, afoot, on foot, on the anvil, going on, acting, in the course of business, all in one's day's work, professionally Adj, a business with an income at its heels, amoto quaeramus seria ludo, par negotiis neque supra, business, occupation, employment, pursuit, what one is doing, what one is about, affair, concern, matter, case, matter in hand, irons in the fire, thing to do, agendum, task, work, job, chore, errand, commission, mission, charge, care, duty, part, role, cue, province, function, lookout, department, capacity, sphere, orb, field, line, walk, walk of life, beat, round, routine, race, career, office, place, post, chargeship, incumbency, living, situation, berth, employ, service, engagement, undertaking, vocation, calling, profession, cloth, faculty, industry, art, industrial arts, craft, mystery, handicraft, trade, exercise, work, avocation, press of business, businesslike, workaday, professional, official, functional, busy, on hand, in hand, in one's hands, afoot, on foot, on the anvil, going on, acting, in the course of business, all in one's day's work, professionally Adj, a business with an income at its heels, amoto quaeramus seria ludo, par negotiis neque supra.

VB  use, make use of, employ, put to use, put in action, put in operation, put in practice, set in motion, set to work, ply, work, wield, handle, manipulate, play, play off, exert, exercise, practice, avail oneself of, profit by, resort to, have recourse to, recur to, take betake oneself to, take up with, take advantage of, lay one's hands on, try, render useful, mold, turn to account, turn to use, convert to use, utilize, work up, call into play, bring into play, put into requisition, call forth, draw forth, press into service, enlist into the service, bring to bear upon, devote, dedicate, consecrate, apply, adhibit, dispose of, make a handle of, make a cat's-paw of, fall back upon, make a shift with, make the most of, make the best of, use up, swallow up, consume, absorb, expend, tax, task, wear, put to task.

N  action, performance, doing perpetration, exercise, excitation, movement, operation, evolution, work, labor, praxis, execution, procedure, handicraft, business, agency, deed, act, overt act, stitch, touch, gest transaction, job, doings, dealings, proceeding, measure, step, maneuver, bout, passage, move, stroke, blow, coup, coup de main, coup d'etat, tour de force, feat, exploit, achievement, handiwork, workmanship, manufacture, stroke of policy, actor, doing, acting, in action, in harness, on duty, in operation, in the act, in the midst of, in the thick of, red-handed, in flagrante delicto, while one's hand is in, action is eloquence, actions speak louder than words, actum aiunt ne agas, awake, arise, or be forever fall'n, dii pia facta vident, faire sans dire, fare fac, fronte capillata post est occasio calva, our deeds are sometimes better than our thoughts, the great end of life is not knowledge but action, thought is the soul of act, vivre-ce nest pas respirer c'est agir, we live in deeds not years.

VB  do, perform, execute, achieve, transact, enact, commit, perpetrate, inflict, exercise, prosecute, carry on, work, practice, play, employ oneself, ply one's task, officiate, have in hand, labor, be at work, pursue a course, shape one's course, act, operate, take action, take steps, strike a blow, lift a finger, stretch forth one's hand, take in hand, put oneself in motion, put in practice, carry into execution, act upon, be an actor, take a part in, act a part in, play a part in, perform a part in, participate in, have a hand in, have a finger in the pie, have to do with, be a party to, be a participator in, bear a hand, lend a hand, pull an oar, run in a race, mix oneself up with, be in action, come into operation.

N  exertion, effort, strain, tug, pull, stress, throw, stretch, struggle, spell, spurt, spirt, stroke of work, stitch of work, a strong pull a long pull and a pull all together, dead lift, heft, gymnastics, exercise, exercitation, wear and tear, ado, toil and trouble, uphill work, hard work, warm work, harvest time, labor, work, toil, travail, manual labor, sweat of one's brow, swink, drudgery, slavery, fagging, hammering, limae labor, industry, industriousness, operoseness, operosity, trouble, pains, duty, resolution, energy, laboring, laborious, operose, elaborate, strained, toilsome, troublesome, wearisome, uphill, herculean, gymnastic, palestric, hard-working, painstaking, strenuous, energetic, hard at work, on the stretch, laboriously, lustily, pugnis et calcibus, with might and main, with all one's might, with a strong hand, with a sledge hammer, with much ado, to the best of one's abilities, totis viribus, vi et armis, manibus pedibusque, tooth and nail, unguibus et rostro, hammer and tongs, heart and soul, through thick and thin, by the sweat of one's brow, suo Marte, aide-toi le ciel t'aidera, and still be doing, never done, buen principio la mitad es hecha, cosa ben fatta e' fatta due volie, it is better to wear out than to rust out, labor omnia vincit, labor, wide as the earth, has its summit in Heaven, le travail du corps delivre des peines de l'esprit, manu forti, ora et labora.

VB  exert oneself, exert one's energies, tax one's energies, use exertion, labor, work, toil, moil, sweat, fag, drudge, slave, drag a lengthened chain, wade through, strive, stretch a long arm, pull, tug, ply, ply the oar, tug at the oar, do the work, take the laboring oar bestir oneself (be active), take trouble, trouble oneself, work hard, rough it, put forth one's strength, put forth a strong arm, fall to work, bend the bow, buckle to, set one's shoulder to the wheel, work like a horse, work like a cart horse, work like a galley slave, work like a coal heaver, labor day and night, work day and night, redouble one's efforts, do double duty, work double hours, work double tides, sit up, burn the candle at both ends, stick to, work one's way, fight one's way, lay about one, hammer at, take pains, do one's best, do one's level best, do one's utmost, give one hundred percent, do the best one can, do all one can, do all in one's power, do as much as in one lies, do what lies in one's power, use one's best endeavor, use one's utmost endeavor, try one's best, try one's utmost, play one's best card, put one's best leg foremost, put one's right leg foremost, have one's whole soul in his work, put all one's strength into, strain every nerve, spare no efforts, spare no pains, go all lengths, go through fire and water, move heaven and earth, leave no stone unturned.

N  effect, consequence, aftergrowth, aftercome, derivative, derivation, result, resultant, resultance, upshot, issue, denouement, end, development, outgrowth, fruit, crop, harvest, product, bud, production, produce, work, handiwork, fabric, performance, creature, creation, offspring, offshoot, firstfruits, firstlings, heredity, telegony, premices premises, owing to, resulting from, derivable from, due to, caused by, dependent upon, derived from, evolved from, derivative, hereditary, telegonous, of course, it follows that, naturally, consequently, as a consequence, in consequence, through, all along of, necessarily, eventually, cela va sans dire, thereby hangs a tale.

N  agency, operation, force, working, strain, function, office, maintenance, exercise, work, swing, play, interworking, interaction, procurement, causation, instrumentality, influence, action, modus operandi, quickening power, maintaining power, sustaining power, home stroke, operative, efficient, efficacious, practical, effectual, at work, on foot, acting, in operation, in force, in action, in play, in exercise, acted upon, wrought upon, by the agency of through, by means of, I myself must mix with action lest I wither by des.

VB  be in action, operate, work, act, act upon, perform, play, support, sustain, strain, maintain, take effect, quicken, strike, come play, come bring into operation, have play, have free play, bring to bear upon.

VB  ornament, overlay with ornament, overcharge, smell of the lamp, ornament, embellish, enrich, decorate, adorn, bead, beautify, adonize, smarten, furbish, polish, gild, varnish, whitewash, enamel, japan, lacquer, paint, grain, garnish, trim, dizen, bedizen, prink, prank, trick out, fig out, deck, bedeck, dight, bedight, array, begawd, titivate, dress, dress up, spangle, bespangle, powder, embroider, work, chase, emboss, fret, emblazon, illuminate, illustrate, become.

VB  pass, pass through, perforate, penetrate, permeate, thread, thrid, enfilade, go through, go across, go over, pass over, cut across, ford, cross, pass and repass, work, make one's way, thread one's way, worm one's way, force one's way, make a passage form a passage, cut one's way through, find its way, find its vent, transmit, make way, clear the course, traverse, go over the ground.

N  music, concert, strain, tune, air, melody, aria, arietta, piece of music, work, number, opus, sonata, rondo, rondeau, pastorale, cavatina, roulade, fantasia, concerto, overture, symphony, variations, cadenza, cadence, fugue, canon, quodlibet, serenade, notturno, dithyramb, opera, operetta, oratorio, composition, movement, stave, passamezzo, toccata, Vorspiel, instrumental music, full score, minstrelsy, tweedledum and tweedledee, band, orchestra, concerted piece, potpourri, capriccio, vocal music, vocalism, chaunt, chant, psalm, psalmody, hymn, song, canticle, canzonet, cantata, bravura, lay, ballad, ditty, carol, pastoral, recitative, recitativo, solfeggio, Lydian measures, slow music, slow movement, adagio, minuet, siren strains, soft music, lullaby, dump, dirge, pibroch, martial music, march, dance music, waltz, solo, duet, duo, trio, quartet, quartett, septett, part song, descant, glee, madrigal, catch, round, chorus, chorale, antiphon, antiphony, accompaniment, second, bass, score, bourdon, drone, morceau, terzetto, composer, musician, musical, instrumental, vocal, choral, lyric, operatic, harmonious, Wagnerian, adagio, largo, larghetto, andante, andantino, alla capella, maestoso, moderato, allegro, allegretto, spiritoso, vivace, veloce, presto, prestissimo, con brio, capriccioso, scherzo, scherzando, legato, staccato, crescendo, diminuendo, rallentando, affettuoso, obbligato, pizzicato, desto, in notes by distance made more sweet, like the faint exquisite music of a dream, music arose with its voluptuous swell, music is the universal language of mankind, music's golden tongue, the speech of angels, will sing the savageness out of a bear, music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.

art work, at work, bantam work, body of work, cold work, detective work, dirty work, do work, dramatic work, electrical work, field work, intelligence work, line of work, literary work, missionary work, out of work, piece of work, police work, put to work, reference work, sabrina work, scut work, sheet-metal work, social work, sorrento work, table work, tool-and-die work, undercover work, welfare work, work against, work animal, work at, work bench, work camp, work day, work flow, work for, work force, work in, work in progress, work of art, work off, work on, work out, work over, work papers, work party, work permit, work shift, work shoe, work song, work stoppage, work study, work surface, work table, work through, work time, work to rule, work toward, work unit, work up, work well, work wonders