n.

1. activity directed toward making or doing something
   
   • she checked several points needing further work
2. a product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing;
   piece of work
   
   • it is not regarded as one of his more memorable works
   • the symphony was hailed as an ingenious work
   • he was indebted to the pioneering work of John Dewey
   • the work of an active imagination
   • erosion is the work of wind or water over time
3. the occupation for which you are paid;
   employment
   
   • he is looking for employment
   • a lot of people are out of work
4. applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading);
   study
   
   • mastering a second language requires a lot of work
   • no schools offer graduate study in interior design
5. the total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it);
   oeuvre, body of work
   
   • he studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
   • Picasso's work can be divided into periods
6. a place where work is done;
   workplace
   
   • he arrived at work early today
7. (physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force
   
   • work equals force times distance

v.

1. exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
   
   • I will work hard to improve my grades
   • she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor
2. be employed;
   do work
   
   • Is your husband working again?
   • My wife never worked
   • Do you want to work after the age of 60?
   • She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money
   • She works as a waitress to put herself through college
3. have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected;
   act
   
   • The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
   • How does your idea work in practice?
   • This method doesn't work
   • The breaks of my new car act quickly
   • The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water
4. perform as expected when applied;
   function, operate, go, run
   
   • The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in
   • Does this old car still run well?
   • This old radio doesn't work anymore
5. shape, form, or improve a material;
   work on, process
   
   • work stone into tools
   • process iron
   • work the metal
6. give a workout to;
   exercise, work out
   
   • Some parents exercise their infants
   • My personal trainer works me hard
   • work one's muscles
7. proceed along a path;
   make
   
   • work one's way through the crowd
   • make one's way into the forest
8. operate in a certain place, area, or specialty
   
   • She works the night clubs
   • The salesman works the Midwest
   • This artist works mostly in acrylics
9. proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity
   
   • work your way through every problem or task
   • She was working on her second martini when the guests arrived
   • Start from the bottom and work towards the top
10. move in an agitated manner
    
    • His fingers worked with tension
11. cause to happen or to occur as a consequence;
    bring, play, wreak, make for
    
    • I cannot work a miracle
    • wreak havoc
    • bring comments
    • play a joke
    • The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
12. cause to work;
    put to work
    
    • he is working his servants hard
13. prepare for crops;
    cultivate, crop
    
    • Work the soil
    • cultivate the land
14. behave in a certain way when handled
    
    • This dough does not work easily
    • The soft metal works well
15. have and exert influence or effect;
    influence, act upon
    
    • The artist's work influenced the young painter
    • She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
16. operate in or through
    
    • Work the phones
17. cause to operate or function
    
    • This pilot works the controls
    • Can you work an electric drill?
18. provoke or excite
    
    • The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy
19. gratify and charm, usually in order to influence
    
    • the political candidate worked the crowds
20. make something, usually for a specific function;
    shape, form, mold, mould, forge
    
    • She molded the rice balls carefully
    • Form cylinders from the dough
    • shape a figure
    • Work the metal into a sword
21. move into or onto
    
    • work the raisins into the dough
    • the student worked a few jokes into his presentation
    • work the body onto the flatbed truck
22. make uniform;
    knead
    
    • knead dough
    • work the clay until it is soft
23. use or manipulate to one's advantage;
    exploit
    
    • He exploit the new taxation system
    • She knows how to work the system
    • he works his parents for sympathy
24. find the solution to  (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of;
    solve, work out, figure out, puzzle out, lick
    
    • did you solve the problem?
    • Work out your problems with the boss
    • this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
    • did you get it?
    • Did you get my meaning?
    • He could not work the math problem
25. cause to undergo fermentation;
    ferment
    
    • We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content
    • The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
26. go sour or spoil;
    sour, turn, ferment
    
    • The milk has soured
    • The wine worked
    • The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
27. arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion
    
    • The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times