work : Idioms & Phrases

• a disparaging term for a person considered to have an excess of some undesirable quality; esp. difficult or eccentric person.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite on the job
  
  • had been at work for over an hour before her boss arrived

WordNet

Ban"tam work`

Definitions

1. Carved and painted work in imitation of Japan ware.

Webster 1913

• work consisting of plaited osiers or twigs.

Webster 1913

• worsted embroidery.

Webster 1913

• noun the total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)
  oeuvre; work.
  
  • he studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
  • Picasso's work can be divided into periods

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• (Arch.), members which are bellied or curved outward like cushions, as in friezes of certain classical styles.

Webster 1913

• a place where bricks are made.

Webster 1913

• work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work of a particular church for the spread of religion.

Webster 1913

Coal" works

Definitions

1. A place where coal is dug, including the machinery for raising the coal.

Webster 1913

• verb shape (metal) without heat
  coldwork.
  

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Cop"per works

Definitions

1. A place where copper is wrought or manufactured. Woodward.

Webster 1913

• . See in the Vocabulary.

Webster 1913

• (Naut.), the account or reckoning of a ship's course for twenty-four hours, from noon to noon.

Webster 1913

• noun a police investigation to determine the perpetrator
  detection; sleuthing; detecting.
  
  • detection is hard on the feet

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• verb be employed
  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

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• noun a play for performance on the stage or television or in a movie etc.
  dramatic composition.
  

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• ornamental work made by drawing out threads from fine cloth, and uniting the cross threads, to form a pattern.

Webster 1913

• noun a workshop where dyeing is done
  

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• noun the craft of an electrician
  

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• (Civil Engin.), construction works to facilitate the erection of the main work, as scaffolding, bridge centering, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun an investigation carried out in the field rather than in a laboratory or headquarters
  

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• (Mach.), work that is made smooth or polished, though not necessarily completed.

Webster 1913

• a manufactory of gas, with all the machinery and appurtenances; a place where gas is generated for lighting cities.

Webster 1913

• ornamentation, in architecture or decoration, of a fantastic, trivial, or tawdry character.

Webster 1913

• an establishment where glass is made.

Webster 1913

Grot"to-work` noun

Definitions

1. Artificial and ornamental rockwork in imitation of a grotto. Cowper.

Webster 1913

• work done with the hands, as distinguished from work done by a machine; handiwork.

Webster 1913

Hand"-work` noun

Definitions

1. See Handiwork.

Webster 1913

High"-wrought` adjective

Definitions

1. Wrought with fine art or skill; elaborate. Obs. Pope.
2. Worked up, or swollen, to a high degree; as, a highwrought passion. "A high-wrought flood." Shak.

Webster 1913

• verb roll, press, forge, or shape (metal) while hot
  

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• noun an alloy steel that remains hard at a red heat; used to make metal-cutting tools
  high-speed steel.
  

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• a furnace where iron is smelted, or a forge, rolling mill, or foundry, where it is made into heavy work, such as shafting, rails, cannon, merchant bar, etc.

Webster 1913

• noun the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
  job; line; business; occupation.
  
  • he's not in my line of business

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• . (a) Talk . (b) Kissing. Humorous B. Jonson.

Webster 1913

• noun imaginative or creative writing
  literary composition.
  

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• loam molding or loam molds.

Webster 1913

• slatted work.

Webster 1913

• work done by a machine, in contradistinction to that done by hand labor.

Webster 1913

• noun active work of little value
  busywork.
  
  • while he was waiting he filled the days with busywork

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• the most important work accomplished by a skilled person, as in architecture, literature, etc.; also, a work which shows the skill of a master; a masterpiece.

Webster 1913

• noun the organized work of a religious missionary
  mission.
  

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• . See Mosaic, n.

Webster 1913

• (Physiol.), the work done by a muscle through the power of contraction.

Webster 1913

• work built or formed to neat lines.

Webster 1913

• (Cabinetwork), ornamental turned work resembling nulls or beads strung on a rod.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite not having a job
  idle; jobless.
  
  • idle carpenters
  • jobless transients
  • many people in the area were out of work

WordNet

• a general term in manufactories for countershafting and gearing, when overhead.

Webster 1913

• noun a product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing
  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

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• noun the investigation of criminal activities
  police investigation.
  

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• a factory where cloth, as calico, is printed.

Webster 1913

• noun structures (such as highways or schools or bridges or docks) constructed at government expense for public use
  

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• all fixed works built by civil engineers for public use, as railways, docks, canals, etc.; but strictly, military and civil engineering works constructed at the public cost.

Webster 1913

• (Arch.), delicate tracery, especially in Gothic architecture.

Webster 1913

• verb cause to work
  work.
  
  • he is working his servants hard

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• (Masonry), stonework consisting of stones of unequal sizes fitted together, but not in courses nor always with flat beds.

Webster 1913

• (Masonry), masonry of squared stones laid in courses each of which is of even height throughout the length of the wall; distinguished from broken range work, which consists of squared stones laid in courses not continuously of even height.

Webster 1913

• noun a book to which you can refer for authoritative facts
  book of facts; reference; reference book.
  
  • he contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic

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• ornamentation of metal in relief by pressing or hammering on the reverse side.

Webster 1913

• (Masonry), work constructed with diamond-shaped stones, or square stones placed diagonally.

Webster 1913

• . (a) (Arch.) Cut stone facing which has the joints worked with grooves or channels, the face of each block projecting beyond the joint, so that the joints are very conspicuous . (b) (Arch. & Woodwork) Summer houses, or furniture for summer houses, etc., made of rough limbs of trees fancifully arranged.

Webster 1913

Sa*bri"na work`

Definitions

1. A variety of appliqué work for quilts, table covers, etc. Caulfeild & S. (Dict. of Needlework).

Webster 1913

• noun trivial, unrewarding, tedious, dirty, and disagreeable chores
  shitwork.
  
  • the hospital hired him to do scut work

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• noun facility consisting of a system of sewers for carrying off liquid and solid sewage
  sewage system; sewer system.
  

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• noun the craft of doing sheet metal work (as in ventilation systems)
  

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• noun any of various services designed to aid the poor and aged and to increase the welfare of children
  

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Sor"ren"to work`

Definitions

1. Ornamental work, mostly carved in olivewood, decorated with inlay, made at or near Sorrento, Italy. Hence, more rarely, jig-saw work and the like done anywhere.

Webster 1913

• (Cornish Mining), a place where an alluvial deposit of tin ore is worked. Ure.

Webster 1913

• to begin laboring; to commence operations; to contrive; to manage. "I 'll go another way to work with him." Shak.

Webster 1913

• . (a) To cause to enter on work or action, or to direct how tu enter on work. (b) To apply one's self; used reflexively.

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• to cause to begin laboring; to set to work. Obs. Hooker.

Webster 1913

• to employ; to cause to engage in any business or labor.

Webster 1913

• to quit work; to go on a strike.

Webster 1913

• (Naut.), to pay for a passage by doing work.

Webster 1913

• to be engaged in or upon; to be employed in.

Webster 1913

• to work disadvantageously.

Webster 1913

• (Naut.), to perform the labor of three days in two; a phrase which alludes to a practice of working by the night tide as well as by the day.

Webster 1913

• to insert, introduce, mingle, or interweave by labor or skill.

Webster 1913

• to force, urge, or insinuate into; as, to work one's self into favor or confidence.

Webster 1913

• to remove gradually, as by labor, or a gradual process; as, beer works off impurities in fermenting.

Webster 1913

• . (a) To effect by labor and exertion. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Phil. ii. 12. (b) To erase; to efface. R.

  Tears of joy for your returning spilt, Work out and expiate our former guilt. Dryden.

  (c) To solve, as a problem. (d) To exhaust, as a mine, by working.

Webster 1913

• to remove the pillars of mineral matter previously left to support the roof, and replace them with props. Ure.

Webster 1913

• (Naut.), to sail or ply against the wind; to tack to windward. Mar. Dict.

Webster 1913

• . (a) To raise; to excite; to stir up; as, to work up the passions to rage.

  The sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their heads, Works up more fire and color in their cheeks. Addison.

  (b) To expend in any work, as materials; as, they have worked up all the stock. (c) (Naut.) To make over or into something else, as yarns drawn from old rigging, made into spun yarn, foxes, sennit, and the like; also, to keep constantly at work upon needless matters, as a crew in order to punish them. R. H. Dana, Jr.

Webster 1913

• noun the craft of making special tools and dies
  

WordNet

• arbors, shrubbery, hedges, or the like, cut and trimmed into fanciful forms, as of animals, building, etc.

Webster 1913

Tut"-work` noun

Definitions

1. (Mining) Work done by the piece, as in nonmetaliferous rock, the amount done being usually reckoned by the fathom. Tomlinson.

Webster 1913

• noun the act of keeping a secret watch for intelligence purposes
  spying.
  

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• (Physics), the amount of work done by a unit force acting through a unit distance, or the amount required to lift a unit weight through a unit distance against gravitation. See Erg, Foot Pound, Kilogrammeter.

Webster 1913

• (Naut.), all those parts of the hull of a vessel that are properly above water.

Webster 1913

• (Arch.), rustic work so wrought as to have the appearance of convoluted worms, or of having been eaten into by, or covered with tracks of, worms.

Webster 1913

• . (Mech.) See Virtual moment, above.

Webster 1913

• noun an organized activity to improve the condition of disadvantaged people in society
  social service.
  

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• noun everything available; usually preceded by `the'
  whole caboodle; kit and boodle; whole kit and boodle; whole kit and caboodle; full treatment; whole kit; kit and caboodle; whole shebang; works.
  
  • we saw the whole shebang
  • a hotdog with the works
  • we took on the whole caboodle
  • for $10 you get the full treatment

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Won"der-work`ing adjective

Definitions

1. Doing wonders or surprising things.

Webster 1913

• noun an animal trained for and used for heavy labor
  

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• verb to exert effort in order to do, make, or perform something
  work at.
  
  • the child worked at the multiplication table until she had it down cold

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• noun a strong worktable for a carpenter or mechanic
  workbench; bench.
  

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• noun a camp for trustworthy prisoners employed in government projects
  prison camp; prison farm.
  

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• noun a day on which work is done
  workday; work day.
  

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• noun progress (or rate of progress) in work being done
  workflow.
  

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• noun the force of workers available
  hands; manpower; men; workforce.
  

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• verb add by mixing or blending on or attaching
  
  • work in the butter and the dough will get the right consistency
  • In his speech, the presidential candidate worked in a lot of learned words

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• noun a piece of work that is not yet finished
  

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• noun work that a person is expected to do in a specified time
  workload.
  

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• noun art that is a product of one of the fine arts (especially a painting or sculpture of artistic merit)
  

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• verb cause to go away through effort or work
  
  • work off the extra pounds you have gained over the holidays
  • we must work off the debt

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• verb to exert effort in order to do, make, or perform something
  work at.
  
  • the child worked at the multiplication table until she had it down cold
• verb shape, form, or improve a material
  process; work.
  
  • work stone into tools
  • process iron
  • work the metal

WordNet

• verb come up with
  work out.
  
  • His colleagues worked out his interesting idea
  • We worked up an ad for our client
• verb happen in a certain way, leading to, producing, or resulting in a certain outcome, often well
  
  • Things worked out in an interesting way
  • Not everything worked out in the end and we were disappointed
• verb work out in detail
  elaborate.
  
  • elaborate a plan
• verb do physical exercise
  exercise.
  
  • She works out in the gym every day
• verb be calculated
  
  • The fees work out to less than $1,000
• verb make a mathematical calculation or computation
  cypher; compute; calculate; reckon; cipher; figure.
  
• verb find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
  lick; 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
• verb give a workout to
  work; exercise.
  
  • Some parents exercise their infants
  • My personal trainer works me hard
  • work one's muscles
  • this puzzle will exercise your mind

WordNet

• verb give a beating to; subject to a beating, either as a punishment or as an act of aggression
  beat; beat up.
  
  • Thugs beat him up when he walked down the street late at night
  • The teacher used to beat the students

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• noun a legal document giving information required for employment of certain people in certain countries
  work papers; work permit.
  

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• noun an organized group of workmen
  gang; crew.
  

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• noun a legal document giving information required for employment of certain people in certain countries
  work papers; work permit.
  

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• noun the time period during which you are at work
  shift; duty period.
  

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• noun a thick and heavy shoe
  brogan; clodhopper; brogue.
  

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• noun a usually rhythmical song to accompany repetitious work
  

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• noun a group's refusal to work in protest against low pay or bad work conditions
  strike.
  
  • the strike lasted more than a month before it was settled

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• noun an analysis of a specific job in an effort to find the most efficient method in terms of time and effort
  time and motion study; motion study; time-motion study; time study; time-and-motion study.
  

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• noun a horizontal surface for supporting objects used in working or playing games
  

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• noun a table designed for a particular task
  worktable.
  

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• verb apply thoroughly; think through
  go through; run through.
  
  • We worked through an example

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• noun a time period when you are required to work
  

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• noun a job action in which workers cause a slowdown by doing only the minimum amount required by the rules of the workplace
  

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• noun a unit of measurement for work
  energy unit; heat unit.
  

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• verb form or accumulate steadily
  build up; progress; build.
  
  • Resistance to the manager's plan built up quickly
  • Pressure is building up at the Indian-Pakistani border
• verb develop
  get up.
  
  • we worked up an as of an appetite
• verb bolster or strengthen
  build up; build; ramp up.
  
  • We worked up courage
  • build up confidence
  • ramp up security in the airports
• verb come up with
  work out.
  
  • His colleagues worked out his interesting idea
  • We worked up an ad for our client

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• noun a horizontal board that provides a supported surface for manual work
  workboard.
  

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• noun clothing worn for doing manual labor
  work-clothes.
  

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• noun clothing worn for doing manual labor
  work-clothes.
  

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• noun occasion when workers continue to work as a protest against e.g. proposed dismissal or closure of the factory
  

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• noun heavy-duty shirts worn for manual or physical work
  

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• adjective satellite disinclined to work or exertion
  lazy; slothful; indolent; faineant; otiose.
  
  • faineant kings under whose rule the country languished
  • an indolent hanger-on
  • too lazy to wash the dishes
  • shiftless idle youth
  • slothful employees
  • the unemployed are not necessarily work-shy

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• noun an educational plan in which students alternate between paid employment and formal study
  

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• adjective satellite (of persons) excessively affected by emotion
  emotional; aroused; excited.
  
  • he would become emotional over nothing at all
  • she was worked up about all the noise

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• noun an informal agreement to work together
  

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• noun assets available for use in the production of further assets
  capital.
  

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• noun a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
  labour; proletariat; labor.
  
  • there is a shortage of skilled labor in this field

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• noun a day on which work is done
  workday; work day.
  
• noun the amount of time that a worker must work for an agreed daily wage
  workday.
  
  • they work an 8-hour day

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• noun any of several breeds of usually large powerful dogs bred to work as draft animals and guard and guide dogs
  

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• noun a young woman who is employed
  
• noun a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money
  fancy woman; woman of the street; bawd; sporting lady; cocotte; lady of pleasure; prostitute; harlot; cyprian; whore; tart.
  

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• noun a group of people working together temporarily until some goal is achieved
  working group.
  
  • the working group was supposed to report back in two weeks

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• noun an employee who performs manual or industrial labor
  workman; working man; workingman.
  

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• noun memory for intermediate results that must be held during thinking
  

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• noun developing in intricate and painstaking detail
  elaboration.
  

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• noun records kept of activities involved in carrying out a project
  
  • the auditor was required to produce his working papers
• noun a legal document giving information required for employment of certain people in certain countries
  work papers; work permit.
  

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• noun a group of people working together temporarily until some goal is achieved
  working group.
  
  • the working group was supposed to report back in two weeks

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• noun an employee who performs manual or industrial labor
  workman; working man; workingman.
  

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• noun a rule that is adequate to permit work to be done
  working principle.
  

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• noun a rule that is adequate to permit work to be done
  working principle.
  

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• adjective satellite of those who work for wages especially manual or industrial laborers
  propertyless; wage-earning; blue-collar.
  
  • party of the propertyless proletariat"- G.B.Shaw
• adjective satellite working for hourly wages rather than fixed (e.g. annual) salaries
  wage-earning.
  
  • working-class occupations include manual as well as industrial labor

WordNet

Work"ing-day adjective

Definitions

1. Pertaining to, or characteristic of, working days, or workdays; everyday; hence, plodding; hard-working.

   O, how full of briers in this working-day world. Shak.

Webster 1913

• noun (chiefly Brit) a council representing employer and employees of a plant or business to discuss working conditions etc; also: a committee representing the workers elected to negotiate with management about grievances and wages etc
  

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• noun a program to provide jobs on public works paid for by government funds
  

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• noun iron having a low carbon content that is tough and malleable and so can be forged and welded
  

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