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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

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work

Related topics: Industry, Maths

work1 /wɜːk $ wɜːrk/ S1 W1 verb

1 do a job for money 为挣钱而工作 [intransitiveI]WORK/DO WORK to do a job that you are paid for 受雇，从事…工作

Where do you work?

你在哪里上班？

Many young people in the area have never worked.

该地区的许多年轻人从未工作过。

The injury means he’ll probably never work again.

这伤意味着他很有可能再也不能工作了。

work for

He works for a law firm.

他在一家律师事务所工作。

work at/in

I work at the university.

我在这所大学工作。

work as

She works as a consultant for a design company.

她在一家设计公司当顾问。

work in industry/education/publishing etc

The studies were undertaken by people working in education.

这些研究是教育界人士做的。

work part-time/full-time

I work part-time in a library.

我在一家图书馆兼职。

n GRAMMAR: Prepositions with work

You work in a city or area:

He works in Manhattan.

You work in a type of place such as a bank, shop, or factory:

She works in a library.

You work at a particular place or organization:

She works at the Library of Congress.

You work for a person, company, or organization that employs you:

He works for his father.

We both work for the same company.

You work in an industry or a type of job, for example education, advertising, or IT:

He works in advertising.

You work as a waiter, cashier, accountant etc:

She works as a cook.

✗Don’t say: She works as cook.

You work on a project or task:

Several people worked on the report.

2 do your job 做工作 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]WORK/DO WORK to do the activities and duties that are part of your job 工作，干活

Sally isn’t working tomorrow.

萨莉明天不上班。

Staff will have to get used to a new way of working.

员工必须适应新的工作方式。

work with

One of the women I work with is getting married this weekend.

我的一位女同事这个周末结婚。

work under somebody (=have someone who is in charge of you) 在某人领导下工作

Each site has a fully trained team who work under a site manager.

每个工地都有一支训练有素的队伍，在工地经理手下工作。

work days/nights/weekends etc

I get paid more if I work nights.

我要是上夜班就可以多拿工资。

We’re sometimes expected to work twelve-hour days.

我们有时候需要一天工作12小时。

Are you working late (=working after the time you usually finish) again tonight?

你今晚又要加班吗？

Forty police officers are working round the clock (=working day and night without stopping) to find Murray’s killer.

为了找出杀害默里的凶手，40名警察正日夜工作。

Nowadays, many people are able to work from home.

如今，很多人可以在家工作。

3 help 帮助 [intransitiveI]WORK/DO WORK if you work with someone or a group of people, your job involves trying to help them 从事帮助〔某人或某群体〕的工作

4 do an activity 从事活动 [intransitiveI]WORK/DO WORK to spend time and effort doing something 〔花费时间和精力〕做〔某事〕

5 try to achieve STH 争取做成某事 [intransitiveI]TRY TO DO OR GET something to try continuously to achieve a particular thing 努力取得，力争

6 machine/equipment 机器/设备

7 be effective/successful 有效/成功 [intransitiveI]SUCCEED IN DOING something to be effective or successful 有效，起作用

8 have an effect 有效果 [intransitiveI always + adverbadv/prepositionprep]EFFECT/INFLUENCE if something such as a fact, situation, or system works in a particular way, it has a particular effect on someone or something 有影响

9 art/style/literature 艺术/风格/文学 [intransitiveI]EFFECTIVE if a painting, design, piece of writing etc works, it is successful because it has the effect on you that the painter, writer etc intended 〔画作、设计、文章等〕奏效，产生预期效果

10. shape/cut STH 让某物成形/切割某物 [transitiveT]TIC if you work a material such as metal, leather, or clay, you cut, sew, or shape it in order to make something 〔通过切割、缝纫等〕使〔金属、皮革、陶土等〕成形[定形]

11 use a substance 使用某种材料 [intransitiveI]TIC to use a particular material or substance in order to make something such as a picture, design, jewellery etc 〔用某种材料〕作画[设计，制作珠宝等]

12 work your way to/through etc something

Examples from the Corpus

work your way to/through etc something• And national campaign finance reform began to work its way through the U. S. Congress.• For nearly two hours he worked his way through his agenda, more administration and finance today than scientific exploration.• He would stand in the gents' cubicle and work his way through the fantasy, peeing in synchronization with the finale.• I realize that I need to work my way through the next passages with care and delicacy.• Magistrates are working their way through questioning all the officers who participated in the raid, beginning with the 13 commanders.• The engine started to sound rough, but she thought it would work its way through and ignored it.• Tom, like most of the others, will need lots of reinforcement as he works his way through the change.• We are attempting to work our way through all these questions.

13. work your way through school/college/university etc to do a job while you are a student because you need the money to pay for your courses, books etc 打工读完中学/大学等

Examples from the Corpus

work your way through school/college/university etc• He worked his way through college, performing menial tasks in exchange for reduced tuition.

14 move gradually 逐渐移动 [intransitiveI, transitiveT always + adverbadv/prepositionprep]MOVE something OR somebodyMOVE/CHANGE POSITION to move into a particular state or position very gradually, either in a series of small movements or after a long time 逐步移动到〔某位置〕；逐渐达到〔某状态〕

15 exercise 锻炼 [transitiveT]MOVE something OR somebody to use and exercise a muscle or part of your body 使〔身体肌肉或某部位〕活动起来

16 move 活动 [intransitiveI, transitiveT] formal if a part of your body works or you work it, it moves （使）〔身体部位〕抽动，颤动

17 work in an area 在某地区工作 [transitiveT] especially American EnglishAmETRAVEL if you work a particular area or type of place, you travel around the area for your job, or work in that type of place 从事〔某区域的〕工作；在…工作

18 work the door to take tickets from people as they enter a club, theatre etc 〔在夜总会、剧院等门口〕收票，检票

19 entertain a crowd 娱乐众人 [transitiveT] if an entertainer or politician works a crowd of people, they entertain them and get their interest or support 〔艺人〕娱乐〔观众〕；〔政客为获得支持〕取悦〔众人〕

20 land/soil 土地/土壤 [transitiveT]TAC if you work the land, soil etc, you do all the work necessary to grow crops on it 耕种

21. mine 矿 [transitiveT]TI to remove a substance such as coal, gold, or oil from under the ground 开采〔煤、金、石油等〕

22 work like magic/work like a charm (also work a treat British English)EFFECTIVE to be very effective 非常灵验，非常有效

23. mind/brain 智力/头脑 [intransitiveI]THINK ABOUT if your mind or brain is working, you are thinking or trying to solve a problem 〔大脑〕思考，〔脑筋〕开动

24 work on the principle/assumption/basis etc that to base ideas, plans etc on a particular fact that you think is true 以某原则/假设/基础等为前提

Examples from the Corpus

work on the principle/assumption/basis etc that• Gamekeepers worked on the principle that any other animals that preyed on pheasants must be ruthlessly eliminated.• When a crime is reported to the police they do not work on the assumption that anyone could have done it.• It works on the assumption that each side is willing to move from its starting point during the negotiations.• The therapy works on the principle that like cures like.• They work on the principle that most people pay up if they're pestered for long enough.• Politicians seem to work on the assumption that the early bird catches the voter.• These devices work on the principle that the oscillating frequency of a crystal under an applied voltage changes with crystal mass.• It works on the principle that the pursuer will not be able to change direction as efficiently as the prey.

25 work yourself into a frenzy/panic/state etc CAUSEto make yourself become very nervous, angry etc 使自己变得疯狂/恐慌/紧张等

Examples from the Corpus

work yourself into a frenzy/panic/state etc• Make sure that the horse stays calm and does not work himself into a frenzy.• You're working yourself into a state.• I could see at once he was working himself into a panic about it all.• I knew I was working myself into a state, but I kept on staring at the picture of the dead girl.• It was silly to work himself into a state like this.• A 16-year-old girl works herself into a frenzy of grief for a friend killed by right-wing vigilantes.

26 work it/things spokenARRANGE A MEETING, EVENT ETC to make arrangements for something to happen, especially by behaving in a clever or skilful way 〔尤指巧妙地〕设法安排

Examples from the Corpus

work it/things• He had worked it all out, everything.• For the purpose of this work it has two meanings, one musical and one socioeconomic.• In the light of revisionist work it is difficult to treat Nicholas's resistance to liberal reform as a matter of chance or historical accident.• Don't try and work it out any more.• Every work it says here is true.• In terms of work it was a real way out for Hereward from his appalling home background.• Hard work it was, but good, clean fun.• But no one should underestimate the amount of hard work it would take.

27 work the system to understand how a system works so that you can get advantages for yourself, often in a slightly dishonest way 钻空子

Examples from the Corpus

work the system• Accountants would always be kept busy showing the rest of us how to work the system.• Many say privately that for whatever reason, too many black parents fail to work the system.• They are all working the system.• It is better if this problem can be avoided by having the operators work the system properly.

28 work somebody hard (also work somebody into the ground informal)WORK HARD to make someone work very hard 让〔某人〕辛苦工作

Examples from the Corpus

work somebody hard• The bank's managers admit that they work their employees hard, but on the other hand they pay good wages.• Sometimes I think that they work us too hard in this office.

29. work your fingers to the bone (also work your socks off informal)WORK HARD to work very hard 拼命干活；努力工作

Examples from the Corpus

work your fingers to the bone• In those days we got up at 5 in the morning, and worked our fingers to the bone.• His mother had had a hard life - had worked her fingers to the bone bringing up six children.

30. work your butt/ass/arse off not polite to work very hard 拼命干活

Examples from the Corpus

work your butt/ass/arse off• In short, I worked my butt off.• I work my butt off for you, while that restaurant is doing worse and worse.• You could have worked your butt off helping a rep and you finally got the rep doing everything right.• I worked my butt off in basketball and stayed on the varsity-in fact, did well.• Meanwhile, Inspiral Carpets went in at grass roots level and worked their butts off in the clubs.• I had to give the ball up, and then I had work my butt off to get it back.

31. calculate 计算 [transitiveT] American EnglishAmE formalHM to calculate the answer to a mathematical problem 计算，算出〔数学题的答案〕

32. work to rule British EnglishBrEBEL to protest about a situation at work by doing your job slowly, with the excuse that you must obey all the rules exactly 故意严守规章而少干活，按章工作

Examples from the Corpus

work to rule• Video-Tape, no voice over ARNCOTT/Oxfordshire Prison officers at Bullingdon prison near Bicester began their work to rule last night.• Plants work to rules rather different from those of animals.

33 (it) works for me/you etc spoken used to say that something is very suitable for someone and does exactly what they wanted or expected 这很适合我

n34 work a trend/look etc to wear something fashionable – used especially in magazines

→ work wonders at wonder2(4), → work miracles at miracle(4), → work your magic at magic1(5) PHRASAL VERBS

Examples from the Corpus

work• "I can't open the jar." "Try putting it in hot water. That sometimes works."• His illness eventually prevented him from working.• I've tried several different diets, but none of them seem to work.• Even where reform has been radical, it has not always worked.• Does the old tape recorder still work?• Does the TV work?• I've been working all day in the garden.• He's changed his job and is now working as a consultant for a German firm.• Her father was an artist who sometimes worked as a salesman and labourer.• For nineteen years, my father worked for the General Electric Corporation.• Frank's been working here for 32 years.• I'd never worked in a lab before I came here.• The research represents the second stage of cross-national collaborative studies undertaken by colleagues working in education in a number of countries.• It is the people who work in the institutions who are most exposed to our dislike.• I bought a bottle of stain remover, and it worked like magic.• Are you prepared to work longer hours occasionally, to get the work done?• Five mornings a week, she worked on campus.• I have to work on Saturday too.• Voice over 16 officers are still working on the case full time.• MacArthur says that the husband alone should work outside the home.• I have no idea how to work these new phones.• Does anyone here know how to work this microwave?• He only works three days a week now.• an organization that is working to preserve California's redwood trees• Not all cancer patients prefer to continue working while undergoing treatment.• Four teachers agreed to work without pay until things were settled.

work for• I think Linda works for a law firm.• Trainor spent a lifetime working for equal rights.• My Dad's been working for IBM for over twenty years.• Russell is working as a software developer for Microsoft.• How long have you worked for Mr Jackson?

work with• Jerry will be working with me on the project.

work with/among• Anyone who worked with him recognised his uncanny ability to find something oddly heroic in all the manifestations of human weakness.• They made no objections to my method and seemed to enjoy working with me.• He worked with Ramsey on several ecumenical committees and respected his mind.• I saw outstanding examples of team work with results impressive in their professionalism.• Also, the posts were round in cross-section, whereas we always worked with square ones.• Macro does a lot of work with the federal government.• More people are going back to work with their hands than ever before.• Now he has had a chance to work with them and perhaps better understands the intricacies of their job.

work ... hard• For some managers a busy looking, paper strewn desk, seems to convey that they are very busy and working hard.• We were well educated and we worked hard.• There is an new bread of youth, an elite who work hard and play hard.• Or they make a sumptuous meal and they work very hard and watch their children and wait for their men.• Carrington worked hard, and with dedication, winning a scholarship.• This is your night, your class, and you've worked hard for it.• Instead, they must work hard throughout the period of change until they have integrated new behaviors into daily routines.• Our distributors worked hard to sell our products.

work to do something• I believed we were working to build a wonderful future.• It takes time and work to build credibility.• More and more are going into politics with the specific intention of working to change the present unjust system.• He said the airline was now working to clear the backlog, with the delayed flights expected to depart within 24 hours.• He worked to dispel his doubts about his friend as though to pass another test, like his ordeal in the park.• In the United States, researchers are working to find the chemical responsible for odour changes. 6.• We worked hard to persuade the French to attend the meeting.• The Connecticut couple went to Wiedenheft and are working to salvage their marriage.• What's more, a steering box's non-reversibility works to your advantage in a front-drive car.

get something to work• Danger is a great thing for getting the body to work!• I'd like the Laboratory building checked first, and as quickly as possible so that the staff can get back to work.• Instead, the two have got together to work on a new service where users will pay for their downloads.• It sounds simple, but Aprilia and Orbital faced a tough challenge getting the system to work.• Lunch is over and she has to get back to work.• Or can I get the heater to work?• When you succeed, pat yourself on the back, take a five-minute break to celebrate, then get back to work.

work against• Tax laws tend to work against small businesses.

work in ... favour• But de Gaulle held firm because he knew that time was working in his favour.• Some analysts argue that this could work in Merrem's favour.• Somehow it all works in their favour.• The contrast with Yeats is instructive, and it doesn't work in Pound's favour.• Remember - anything that reduces the casualty count will work in your favour because of your fixed rank bonus.• Also, the preponderance of men means that the mating game works in favour of women.• Bags can work in our favour too.

work in/with• A similar dynamic was at work with a 1998 initiative campaign that would have allowed open primaries.• He does not show up for work in a bathrobe, even a White House one.• We spend 6 weeks working with local churches doing outreach, and then have one final week of school.• But when they are scalping, they are working in the public interest.• Many people ask to work in the shop, he says.• Petar now goes by the name of Peter and works in the Unmik administration.• I prefer to work in watercolors.• Obviously, works in which the composer creates a continuous musical bridge between one movement and the next.• That doesn't happen when some one works with you as a director, and Jack was like a director, too.

work (its way) loose• Check that all cables are firmly in their sockets and have not worked loose.• I therefore put muzzles on all the ferrets I intend to work loose.• It was these bolt which had worked loose.• Since aluminium expands more than steel the steel bolts had worked loose.• This stops them working loose as yours have done and subsequently ruining the engine.?• If these work loose, feedback can arise, so check and tighten if necessary.• The males are usually used as line ferrets and the females are worked loose, muzzled or otherwise.

Related topics: Arts, Physics

work2 S1 W1 noun

1 job 工作 [uncountableU]JOB/WORK a job or activity that you do regularly, especially in order to earn money 工作；职业 → employment

2 place 地点 [uncountableU]WORK FOR somebody a place where you do your job, which is not your home 工作地点；办公室

3 duties 责任 [uncountableU]WORK THAT somebody DOES the duties and activities that are part of your job 差事；职务

4 result 成果 [uncountableU]WORK THAT somebody DOES something that you produce as a result of doing your job or doing an activity 工作成果；产品

5 papers etc 文件等 [uncountableU] the papers and other materials you need for doing work 〔工作所需的〕文件及材料

6 book/painting/music 书/画/音乐 [countableC]A something such as a painting, play, piece of music etc that is produced by a painter, writer, or musician 著作；〔艺术〕作品

7 activity 活动 [uncountableU]WORK THAT somebody DOES when you use physical or mental effort in order to achieve something 〔花费体力或脑力做的〕事情；工作

8 study 学习 [uncountableU]WORK THAT somebody DOES study or research, especially for a particular purpose 〔尤指为某一目的进行的〕学习，研究

9 at work

10 the (whole) works spokenALL/EVERYTHING used after mentioning several things, to emphasize that someone or something has everything you can think of 所有的东西，全部

Examples from the Corpus

the (whole) works• Since that time the shop at the works receiving another coat of paint and final decoration.• Dozens of palm trees are being planted at key intersections, and plans are in the works to improve street lighting.• The plan to merge Hemlo and Battle Mountain Gold has been in the works for two years.• He was an anglophile and an enthusiast of the works of Jeremy Bentham.• I'd like a hot dog with ketchup, onions...the works.• I run into the bathroom and floss deodorize brush spray the works the usual.• And that you learn to groom Goosedown, and feed her, and take care of her tack, the whole works.• Of these about 40 lived in hutted accommodation adjacent to the works, whilst the remainder lived in lodgings in the surrounding villages.• When we come to the works of man, cellulose is still in the leading place.

11 nice work/quick work spokenPRAISE used to praise someone for doing something well or quickly 干得好/干得快〔用于称赞某人〕

12 something is in the works/pipeline informal used to say that something is being planned or developed 某事在计划中；某事在筹备中

Examples from the Corpus

something is in the works/pipeline• The suit is meant to head off a legal attack against it by Apple which Quorum believes is in the works.• But Sassa said no time change is in the works.• Hence the suspicion that a compromise is in the works.• Legislation is in the works to encourage states to improve planning and prevention.• A Sprint spokeswoman declined comment, but company sources confirmed the plan is in the works.• A high-school program is in the works.• Another, even larger project is in the works just north of Puerto Pe asco.

13 works

Examples from the Corpus

ironworks/gasworks/cement etc works• Pennsylvania, because it has a concentration of steel and cement works.• Albert Batchelor constructed a small cement works on the site known as Clinkham works which continued to operate until 1931.

14. the works TEthe moving parts of a machine 〔机器的〕活动机件 SYN mechanism

Examples from the Corpus

the works• And the works of Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas were seen as just adventure stories.• The school needs new computers, calculators, chairs, cooking utensils...basically, the works.• I found the works to be incomplete or inadequate, mainly from an orchestral point of view.• The plan to merge Hemlo and Battle Mountain Gold has been in the works for two years.• Chiron has a number of new vaccine candidates in the works.• They had a poison pen in the works.• "What would you like on your hotdog -- mustard, ketchup, relish?" "Give me the works."• In particular, they should give pupils the opportunity to gain some experience of the works of Shakespeare.• He recognised the vigour that these imparted to the works of Rubens and Veronese.• The defendant contended it accrued when the works were completed, in which event the action is statute-barred.

15 operation 手术 [uncountableU] an operation to make you look younger or more attractive 整容手术 SYN cosmetic surgery

16 have your work cut out (for you) informalDIFFICULT used to say that it will be very difficult to do something （某人）做某事很困难

Examples from the Corpus

have your work cut out (for you)• The home team has not beaten the Scarlets for some dozen matches and should still have their work cut out to win.• They have their work cut out adapting themselves to it, and it to themselves.• They have their work cut out for them.• We have our work cut out for us.• Whoever takes on the trout farm will have their work cut out.• Election monitors will have their work cut out.• So you have your work cut out for you.

17 make short/light work of something to do something very quickly and easily 迅速/轻松地干完某事

Examples from the Corpus

make short/light work of something• The second game we pull away early and make short work of it.• Guernsey made short work of the opposition when they won the event on home soil in 1990.• Fourth placed Guisborough made short work of the opposition at Saltburn.• Carmen would have made short work of Michael too.• It made short work of our Windows performance tests, WinTach, clocking up an impressive index of over 9.3.• But she made light work of polishing off the shopping at a supermarket near her West London home.• It is fair to warn anglers that thousands of crabs soon make short work of rag and lugworm.• Willie Thorne made light work of the promising Nottinghamshire youngster, Anthony Hamilton, as he eased into the last 16.

18 make heavy/hard work of something to do something with difficulty 辛苦地做某事

Examples from the Corpus

make heavy/hard work of something• You can make hard work of an easy job if you don't know the right way to go.• She was making hard work of plucking the goose.

19 be a work in progress to not be finished or perfect yet 仍未完成，尚未完善

20. all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy) used to say that you should not spend all your time working, but should spend some of your time relaxing 只工作不娱乐[只会干不会玩]（会把人变傻）

21. force 力 [uncountableU] technicalHP force multiplied by distance 〔物理学上的〕功

→ be all in a day’s work at day(21), → do somebody’s dirty work at dirty1(8), → a nasty piece of work at nasty(7), → nice work if you can get it at nice(12)

COLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 3

verbs

start work 开始工作

He started work as a trainee accountant.

他从会计实习生做起。

look for work (also seek work formal) 找工作

Young people come to town looking for work.

年轻人进城来找工作。

find work (=get a job) 找到工作

It was difficult for them to find work.

他们很难找到工作。

return to work/go back to work 返回工作岗位

His doctor agreed he was fit enough to return to work.

医生也认为他身体恢复的很不错，可以回去工作了。

ADJECTIVES/NOUN + work

part-time work 兼职工作

In recent years part-time work has become more popular.

近年来兼职工作越来越流行。

full-time work 全职工作

Are you available for full-time work?

你能干全职工作吗？

paid work 拿薪酬的工作

She hasn’t done any paid work since she had children.

她自从有了孩子以后就没做过任何有薪酬的工作。

secretarial/clerical/office work 秘书/文书/办公室工作

nI have a background in secretarial work.

nShe had done clerical work before she married.

legal work (=work done by lawyers) 法律工作

nHe will handle all the legal work.

manual work (=work done with your hands) 体力活

nMost of them were employed in manual work.

voluntary work British EnglishBrE, volunteer work American EnglishAmE (=a job you are not paid for) 志愿工作，义务工作

nShe also did voluntary work in a girls’ club.

somebody’s daily work (=the work someone does every day) 某人的日常工作

nWhen they finished their daily work they would be too tired for much except rest.

phrases

somebody’s line of work (=type of work) 某人的行业[行当]

I meet lots of interesting people in my line of work.

我干这一行可以认识许多有趣的人。

nthe work environment

It is important to have a pleasant work environment.

nwork practices

She supported me enthusiastically in bringing in new work practices.

COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 7: when you use physical or mental effort in order to achieve something 〔花费体力或脑力做的〕事情；工作

verbs

ncarry out work

The work should be carried out without further delay.

ndo work

He was doing some work on his father’s car.

set to/get to/get down to work (=start work) 开始工作

nThey set to work cutting down trees and brushwood.

nundertake work

About a three adults in ten undertake voluntary work.

nwork starts/begins

Work had already started on the bridge when the error was spotted.

nwork continues

Work is continuing on three major building projects.

nadjectives

hard

It’s been very hard work, but I’ve loved every moment of it.

backbreaking (=very tiring)

Clearing the garden was slow, backbreaking work.

arduous (=needing a lot of effort)

This was physically arduous work.

heavy work (=hard physical work)

The heavy work is done by the gardener.

light work (=work that is not physically hard)

He had been ill, but she found him some light work to do.

Examples from the Corpus

work• For this reason, parents are always welcome to see their children at work in our school.• Her mother tried to call her at home and then at work.• David tries to avoid work at all times.• Have you ever done bar work before?• Are you still involved in charity work?• He's doing construction work these days.• He eventually found work as a labourer on a construction site.• Finally, I would like to thank all the staff for their hard work this year.• She is surrounded by books and papers; her desk piled high with correspondence relating to her work.• Her later works reflected her growing depression.• I'm not doing any more work on the house this year, I can't be bothered.• His last few speeches had been awful, and he knew he had to put more work into them.• Who says museum work doesn't pay?• Handel's "Messiah" is one of the most majestic musical works ever written.• A major new work by one of Poland's leading film directors will be shown next Saturday.• A considerable amount of work was necessary to establish even this basic framework.• A quick change can be effected by using this additional experience to point to another type of work.• Rawls's work reaches somewhat different conclusions concerning justice and equality to that of Hayek.• 'Where's Dave?' 'He's outside, doing some work on the car, I think.'• He liked the work, and he was good at it too.• An opportunity was afforded when the council supported El Universal in its uncomplimentary evaluation of the work of the early independence leaders.• Being in the police isn't all action. Administration is a large part of the work we do.• His injuries have made it impossible for him to go back to work.• Alexander commutes 30 miles to work each day.• Could I ride with you to work tomorrow?• How do you like your work?

out of work• Jean's been out of work for six months.• In some of the more desolate regions, half of the active population is out of work.• The number of people out of work and claiming benefit fell by 18,000 in August to 1,051,300.• Punishing the young Young people aged 18-24 years who remain out of work can lose benefits.• It is running out of working cash because it has £ 44m worth of books in stock.• Ron and Melanie found themselves out of work and deep in debt.• Naturally, most people thrown out of work do not like it and suffer psychological stress.• He was out of work for twelve months.• The money went for staffers who were out of work when the probe ended.

at work• Danger! Men at work.• It's great seeing his diplomatic skills at work.• She's still at work. I'll ask her to call you when she gets home.

starts work• In the mornings Elaine can not get up before 9am - which is when her care assistant starts work.• His committee starts work next week.• She starts work at eight-thirty with Blakelock.

a piece of work• It was a triumph, as a piece of work.• Looking at a piece of work on the board Mrs Singh said she wanted her son to write like that.• This may be a piece of work offering straight forward short-term helping around obtaining a service.• It is an opportunity to experience at a practical level the pleasures of creating a piece of work or joining and dance.• Crude as Farley plays it, his endearing-blowfish persona is quite a piece of work.• The result is that a piece of work takes a long time to complete.• He took a piece of work with him to finish.• When a piece of work is late they enquire as to their prey's health, and mention an upcoming pay review.

work on• Peter's in the kitchen working on his model airplanes.• Scales and finger exercises are the areas to work on if you want to improve your technique.• Your tennis playing is getting better, but you need to work on your serve.

carry out/do work• Between 1390 and 1398 Lewyn was carrying out work at Finchale priory, subordinate to Durham Cathedral.

From Longman Business Dictionary

workwork1 /wɜːkwɜːrk/ verb

1[intransitiveI] to do a job that you are paid for

Harry is 78 and still working.

Most of the people I went to school with work in factories.

work for

David works for a broadcasting company.

work as

She works as a financial consultant.

2[intransitiveI, transitiveT]HUMAN RESOURCES to do the activities or duties that are part of your job

Sally isn’t working tomorrow.

I’m tired of working ten-hour days.

3[transitiveT]MARKETING to travel around a particular area as part of your job, especially in order to sell something

Markovitz works the Tri-State area.

4[intransitiveI] to do an activity which needs time and effort

We had to work non-stop to get the book finished on time.

5work somebody hard to make someone use a lot of time and effort in a job or activity

The company is famous for working its employees hard.

6[transitiveT] if you work a particular material such as metal, leather etc, you cut or shape it in order to make something

7work the land/soilFARMING to do all the work necessary to grow crops on a piece of land

Our family has worked this land for generations.

8work a mineMANUFACTURING to remove a substance such as coal, gold, or oil from a mine

9[intransitiveI] if a machine or piece of equipment works, it does what it is supposed to do

Is the photocopier working now?

10[transitiveT] to operate a machine or piece of equipment

The check-out is slow, because only two clerks work the cash registers.

11[intransitiveI] if a method, plan, or system works, it produces the results you want

The article gives a good understanding of how the pharmaceutical research process works.

12[intransitiveI] if something such as a fact, situation, or system works in a particular way, it has a particular effect on somebody or something

The tax laws tend to work against small companies.

13work an organization/system etc to know how to influence an organization etc in order to achieve something

Those who advance in this environment are people with an instinct for securing supplies, cultivating connections and working the system.

14work your way up if you work your way up, or work your way up in an organization, your jobs in it become more and more important

They have spent their entire careers at the firm and worked their way up the ranks.

15work to rule British EnglishBrE, work to contract American EnglishAmEHUMAN RESOURCES to protest about a situation at work by doing your job less quickly or effectively than usual, but without breaking your employer’s rules or the terms of your contract

The staff are not on strike but are working to rule.

→ see also work-to-rule

→ work out

workwork2 noun [uncountableU]

1the job you are paid to do or an activity that you do regularly to earn money

My father started work when he was 14.

The work was interesting and well paid.

He eventually found work on a construction site.

She’s been out of work (=not had a job) for almost a year now.

He has been off work (=not working because of illness) for four weeks because of his wrist condition.

Many women take part-time work while they are raising children.

6.3 million people are working part time but would prefer full-time work.