What is work?

More definitions of "work":

• (verb): Make something, usually for a specific function.
  Example: "Work the metal into a sword"
  Synonyms: shape, form, mold, mould, forge

• (verb): Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.
  Example: "I cannot work a miracle"
  Synonyms: bring, play, wreak, make for

• (verb): Prepare for crops.
  Example: "Work the soil"
  Synonyms: cultivate, crop

• (verb): Make uniform.
  Example: "Work the clay until it is soft"
  Synonyms: knead

• (verb): Give a work-out to.
  Example: "Work one's muscles"
  Synonyms: exercise, work out

• (verb): Shape, form, or improve a material.
  Example: "Work stone into tools"; "work the metal"
  Synonyms: work on, process

• (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.
  Example: "Work equals force times distance"

• (verb): Proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity.
  Example: "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"

• (verb): Find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of.
  Example: "Work out your problems with the boss"; "this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"; "He could not work the math problem"
  Synonyms: solve, work out, figure out, puzzle out, lick

• (verb): Operate in or through.
  Example: "Work the phones"

• (verb): Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected.
  Example: "The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought"; "How does your idea work in practice?"; "This method doesn't work"
  Synonyms: act

• (verb): Proceed along a path.
  Example: "Work one's way through the crowd"
  Synonyms: make

• (noun): The total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it).
  Example: "Picasso's work can be divided into periods"
  Synonyms: oeuvre, body of work

• (noun): A product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing.
  Example: "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"
  Synonyms: piece of work

• (noun): Applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading).
  Example: "Mastering a second language requires a lot of work"
  Synonyms: study

• (verb): Arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion.
  Example: "The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times"

• (verb): Cause to work.
  Synonyms: put to work

• (noun): A place where work is done.
  Example: "He arrived at work early today"
  Synonyms: workplace

• (noun): The occupation for which you are paid.
  Example: "A lot of people are out of work"
  Synonyms: employment

• (verb): Move in an agitated manner.
  Example: "His fingers worked with tension"

• (verb): Perform as expected when applied.
  Example: "This old radio doesn't work anymore"
  Synonyms: function, operate, go, run

• (verb): Go sour or spoil.
  Synonyms: sour, turn, ferment

• (verb): Operate in a certain place, area, or specialty.
  Example: "She works the night clubs"; "The salesman works the Midwest"; "This artist works mostly in acrylics"

• (verb): Be employed.
  Example: "Do you want to work after the age of 60?"; "She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money"
  Synonyms: do work

• (noun): Activity directed toward making or doing something.
  Example: "She checked several points needing further work"

• (verb): Use or manipulate to one's advantage.
  Example: "She knows how to work the system"
  Synonyms: exploit

• (verb): Behave in a certain way when handled.
  Example: "This dough does not work easily"; "The soft metal works well"

• (verb): Provoke or excite.
  Example: "The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy"

• (verb): Cause to undergo fermentation.
  Synonyms: ferment

• (verb): Exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity.
  Example: "I will work hard to improve my grades"; "she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor"

• (verb): Gratify and charm, usually in order to influence.
  Example: "The political candidate worked the crowds"

• (verb): Have and exert influence or effect.
  Example: "The artist's work influenced the young painter"
  Synonyms: influence, act upon

• (verb): Cause to operate or function.
  Example: "This pilot works the controls"; "Can you work an electric drill?"

Famous quotes containing the word work:

“I can’t work without a model. I won’t say I turn my back on nature ruthlessly in order to turn a study into a picture, arranging the colors, enlarging and simplifying; but in the matter of form I am too afraid of departing from the possible and the true.”
—Vincent Van Gogh (1853–1890)

“On a huge hill,
Cragged, and steep, Truth stands, and he that will
Reach her, about must, and about must go;
And what the hill’s suddenness resists, win so;
Yet strive so, that before age, death’s twilight,
Thy Soul rest, for none can work in that night.
To will, implies delay, therefore now do:
Hard deeds, the body’s pains; hard knowledge too
The mind’s endeavours reach, and mysteries
Are like the Sun, dazzling, yet plain to all eyes.”
—John Donne (1572–1631)

“Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and organize.”
—Albert Gore, Jr. (b. 1948)