[wəːk], (Noun)

Definitions:
- activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result
(e.g: he was tired after a day's work)

- a task or tasks to be undertaken
(e.g: they made sure the work was progressing smoothly)

- a thing or things done or made; the result of an action
(e.g: her work hangs in all the main American collections)

- a place or premises in which industrial or manufacturing processes are carried out
(e.g: he found a job in the locomotive works)

- the operative part of a clock or other machine
(e.g: she could almost hear the tick of its works)

- a defensive structure
(e.g: just north of the fort were trenches and the freshly reconstructed patriot siege works)

- the exertion of force overcoming resistance or producing molecular change

- everything needed, desired, or expected
(e.g: the heavens put on a show: sheet lightning, hailstones, the works)


Phrases:
- a spanner in the works
- all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
- at work
- give someone the works
- have one's work cut out
- in the works
- make hard work of
- out of work
- set someone to work
- set to work
- the work of —
- work one's ass off
- work one's passage
- work one's way through
- work one's way up
- work one's will on
- work the streets

Origin:
Old English weorc (noun), wyrcan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch werk and German Werk, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek ergon

[wəːk], (Verb)

Definitions:
- be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a result; do work
(e.g: she has been working so hard)

- (of a machine or system) function, especially properly or effectively
(e.g: his phone doesn't work unless he goes to a high point)

- (of a plan or method) have the desired result or effect
(e.g: the desperate ploy had worked)

- bring (a material or mixture) to a desired shape or consistency by hammering, kneading, etc.
(e.g: work the mixture into a paste with your hands)

- move or cause to move gradually or with difficulty into another position
(e.g: comb hair from tip to root, working out the knots at the end)

- bring into a specified emotional state
(e.g: Harold had worked himself into a minor rage)


Phrases:
- a spanner in the works
- all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
- at work
- give someone the works
- have one's work cut out
- in the works
- make hard work of
- out of work
- set someone to work
- set to work
- the work of —
- work one's ass off
- work one's passage
- work one's way through
- work one's way up
- work one's will on
- work the streets

Origin:
Old English weorc (noun), wyrcan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch werk and German Werk, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek ergon