- (n.) 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.
- (n.) Break; twist.
- (n.) Ore before it is dressed.
- (n.) 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.
- (n.) Hence, figuratively, to be effective; to have effect or influence; to conduce.
- (n.) The moving parts of a mechanism; as, the works of a watch.
- (n.) 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.
- (n.) Hence, in a general sense, to operate; to act; to perform; as, a machine works well.
- (n.) 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.
- (n.) 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.
- (n.) Manner of working; management; treatment; as, unskillful work spoiled the effect.
- (n.) 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.
- (n.) To ferment, as a liquid.
- (v.t.) To produce by slow degrees or as if laboriously; to bring gradually into any state by action or motion.
- (v.t.) To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to; to prepare for use or to utilize, by labor.
- (n.) 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.
- (v.t.) To influence by acting upon; to prevail upon; to manage; to lead.
- (v.t.) 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.
- (v.t.) To cause to ferment, as liquor.
- (n.) Performance of moral duties; righteous conduct.
- (v.t.) To form with a needle and thread or yarn; especially, to embroider; as, to work muslin.
- (n.) To act or operate on the stomach and bowels, as a cathartic.
- (n.) 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.
- (v.t.) To set in motion or action; to direct the action of; to keep at work; to govern; to manage; as, to work a machine.
- (n.) 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.
- (n.) To carry on business; to be engaged or employed customarily; to perform the part of a laborer; to labor; to toil.
- (n.) Ore before it is dressed.
- (n.) Exertion of strength or faculties; physical or intellectual effort directed to an end; industrial activity; toil; employment; sometimes, specifically, physically labor.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). work. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/work/definitions/2082560 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "work" http://smartdefine.org/work/definitions/2082560 (accessed September 20, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, work, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/work/definitions/2082560>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "work" 28 May 2011. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/work/definitions/2082560> |