[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

work \work\ w^urk, n. oe. work, werk, weorc, as. weorc,
   worc; akin to ofries. werk, wirk, os., d.,  g. werk, ohg.
   werc, werah, icel.  sw. verk, dan. vaerk, goth.
   gawa'urki, gr. 'e`rgon, digammae`rgon, work, "re`zein to
   do, 'o`rganon an instrument, 'o`rgia secret rites, zend verez
   to work. root145. cf. bulwark, energy, erg,
   georgic, liturgy, metallurgy, organ, orgy,
   surgeon, wright.
   1913 webster
   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.                            --milton.
      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.             --shak.
      1913 webster

            in every work that he began . . . he did it with all
            his heart, and prospered.             --2 chron.
                                                  xxxi. 21.
      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. --shak.
      1913 webster

            the work some praise,
            and some the architect.               --milton.
      1913 webster

            fancy . . .
            wild work produces oft, and most in dreams.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

            the composition or dissolution of mixed bodies . . .
            is the chief work of elements.        --sir k.
                                                  digby.
      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.                 --shak.
          1913 webster
      c pl. structures in civil, military, or naval
          engineering, as docks, bridges, embankments, trenches,
          fortifications, and the like; also, the structures and
          grounds of a manufacturing establishment; as, iron
          works; locomotive works; gas works.
      d pl. the moving parts of a mechanism; as, the works of
          a watch.
          1913 webster

   5. manner of working; management; treatment; as, unskillful
      work spoiled the effect. --bp. stillingfleet.
      1913 webster

   6. mech. 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.                              --clerk
                                                  maxwell.
      1913 webster

   7. mining ore before it is dressed. --raymond.
      1913 webster

   8. pl. script. performance of moral duties; righteous
      conduct.
      1913 webster

            he shall reward every man according to his works.
                                                  --matt. xvi.
                                                  27.
      1913 webster

            faith, if it hath not works, is dead. --james ii.
                                                  17.
      1913 webster

   9. cricket break; twist. cant
      webster 1913 suppl.

   10. mech. 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.                             --clerk
                                                  maxwell.
       webster 1913 suppl.

   11. mining ore before it is dressed.
       webster 1913 suppl.

   muscular work physiol., the work done by a muscle through
      the power of contraction.

   to go to work, to begin laboring; to commence operations;
      to contrive; to manage. "i 'll go another way to work with
      him." --shak.

   to set on work, to cause to begin laboring; to set to work.
      obs. --hooker.

   to set to work, to employ; to cause to engage in any
      business or labor.
      1913 webster
see also:
bulwark energy erg georgic liturgy metallurgy 
organ orgy surgeon wright conservation of energy 
conservation unit of work unit foot pound horse power 
poundal muscular work to go to work to set on work to set to work 

At Work >> A Words
At Work, definition of term: At Work
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