works Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun buildings for carrying on industrial labor
   plant; industrial plant.
   
   • they built a large plant to manufacture automobiles
2. noun everything available; usually preceded by `the'
   whole caboodle; kit and boodle; whole kit and boodle; whole kit and caboodle; full treatment; whole works; whole kit; kit and caboodle; whole shebang.
   
   • we saw the whole shebang
   • a hotdog with the works
   • we took on the whole caboodle
   • for $10 you get the full treatment
3. noun performance of moral or religious acts
   deeds.
   
   • salvation by deeds
   • the reward for good works
4. noun the internal mechanism of a device
   workings.
   
5. noun activity directed toward making or doing something
   work.
   
   • she checked several points needing further work
6. noun a product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing
   work; 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
7. noun the occupation for which you are paid
   work; employment.
   
   • he is looking for employment
   • a lot of people are out of work
8. noun applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)
   study; work.
   
   • mastering a second language requires a lot of work
   • no schools offer graduate study in interior design
9. noun (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.
   
   • work equals force times distance
10. noun a place where work is done
    work; workplace.
    
    • he arrived at work early today
11. noun the total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)
    oeuvre; body of work; work.
    
    • he studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
    • Picasso's work can be divided into periods
12. verb exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
    work.
    
    • I will work hard to improve my grades
    • she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor
13. verb be employed
    do work; 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
14. verb have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected
    work; 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
15. verb perform as expected when applied
    function; go; work; run; operate.
    
    • 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
16. verb shape, form, or improve a material
    process; work on; work.
    
    • work stone into tools
    • process iron
    • work the metal
17. verb give a workout to
    work; work out; exercise.
    
    • Some parents exercise their infants
    • My personal trainer works me hard
    • work one's muscles
    • this puzzle will exercise your mind
18. verb proceed along a path
    make; work.
    
    • work one's way through the crowd
    • make one's way into the forest
19. verb operate in a certain place, area, or specialty
    work.
    
    • She works the night clubs
    • The salesman works the Midwest
    • This artist works mostly in acrylics
20. verb proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity
    work.
    
    • 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
21. verb move in an agitated manner
    work.
    
    • His fingers worked with tension
22. verb cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
    bring; play; work; wreak; make for.
    
    • I cannot work a miracle
    • wreak havoc
    • bring comments
    • play a joke
    • The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
23. verb cause to work
    work; put to work.
    
    • he is working his servants hard
24. verb prepare for crops
    cultivate; work; crop.
    
    • Work the soil
    • cultivate the land
25. verb behave in a certain way when handled
    work.
    
    • This dough does not work easily
    • The soft metal works well
26. verb have and exert influence or effect
    work; influence; act upon.
    
    • The artist's work influenced the young painter
    • She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
27. verb operate in or through
    work.
    
    • Work the phones
28. verb cause to operate or function
    work.
    
    • This pilot works the controls
    • Can you work an electric drill?
29. verb provoke or excite
    work.
    
    • The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy
30. verb gratify and charm, usually in order to influence
    work.
    
    • the political candidate worked the crowds
31. verb make something, usually for a specific function
    mould; form; work; shape; forge; mold.
    
    • She molded the rice balls carefully
    • Form cylinders from the dough
    • shape a figure
    • Work the metal into a sword
32. verb move into or onto
    work.
    
    • work the raisins into the dough
    • the student worked a few jokes into his presentation
    • work the body onto the flatbed truck
33. verb make uniform
    knead; work.
    
    • knead dough
    • work the clay until it is soft
34. verb use or manipulate to one's advantage
    exploit; work.
    
    • He exploit the new taxation system
    • She knows how to work the system
    • he works his parents for sympathy
35. verb find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
    lick; work out; work; puzzle out; solve; figure out.
    
    • 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
36. verb cause to undergo fermentation
    ferment; work.
    
    • We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content
    • The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
37. verb go sour or spoil
    ferment; turn; sour; work.
    
    • The milk has soured
    • The wine worked
    • The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
38. verb arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion
    work.
    
    • The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times

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