Work \Work\ (w[^u]rk), n. [OE. work, werk, weorc, AS. weorc,
   worc; akin to OFries. werk, wirk, OS., D., & G. werk, OHG.
   werc, werah, Icel. & Sw. verk, Dan. v[ae]rk, Goth.
   gawa['u]rki, Gr. 'e`rgon, [digamma]e`rgon, work, "re`zein to
   do, 'o`rganon an instrument, 'o`rgia secret rites, Zend verez
   to work. [root]145. Cf. Bulwark, Energy, Erg,
   Georgic, Liturgy, Metallurgy, Organ, Orgy,
   Surgeon, Wright.]
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   1. Exertion of strength or faculties; physical or
      intellectual effort directed to an end; industrial
      activity; toil; employment; sometimes, specifically,
      physical labor.
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            Man hath his daily work of body or mind
            Appointed.                            --Milton.
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   2. The matter on which one is at work; that upon which one
      spends labor; material for working upon; subject of
      exertion; the thing occupying one; business; duty; as, to
      take up one's work; to drop one's work.
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            Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand
            That you yet know not of.             --Shak.
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            In every work that he began . . . he did it with all
            his heart, and prospered.             --2 Chron.
                                                  xxxi. 21.
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   3. That which is produced as the result of labor; anything
      accomplished by exertion or toil; product; performance;
      fabric; manufacture; in a more general sense, act, deed,
      service, effect, result, achievement, feat.
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            To leave no rubs or blotches in the work. --Shak.
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            The work some praise,
            And some the architect.               --Milton.
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            Fancy . . .
            Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams.
                                                  --Milton.
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            The composition or dissolution of mixed bodies . . .
            is the chief work of elements.        --Sir K.
                                                  Digby.
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   4. Specifically:
      (a) That which is produced by mental labor; a composition;
          a book; as, a work, or the works, of Addison.
      (b) Flowers, figures, or the like, wrought with the
          needle; embroidery.
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                I am glad I have found this napkin; . . .
                I'll have the work ta'en out,
                And give 't Iago.                 --Shak.
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      (c) pl. Structures in civil, military, or naval
          engineering, as docks, bridges, embankments, trenches,
          fortifications, and the like; also, the structures and
          grounds of a manufacturing establishment; as, iron
          works; locomotive works; gas works.
      (d) pl. The moving parts of a mechanism; as, the works of
          a watch.
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   5. Manner of working; management; treatment; as, unskillful
      work spoiled the effect. --Bp. Stillingfleet.
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   6. (Mech.) The causing of motion against a resisting force.
      The amount of work is proportioned to, and is measured by,
      the product of the force into the amount of motion along
      the direction of the force. See Conservation of energy,
      under Conservation, Unit of work, under Unit, also
      Foot pound, Horse power, Poundal, and Erg.
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            Energy is the capacity of doing work . . . Work is
            the transference of energy from one system to
            another.                              --Clerk
                                                  Maxwell.
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   7. (Mining) Ore before it is dressed. --Raymond.
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   8. pl. (Script.) Performance of moral duties; righteous
      conduct.
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            He shall reward every man according to his works.
                                                  --Matt. xvi.
                                                  27.
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            Faith, if it hath not works, is dead. --James ii.
                                                  17.
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   9. (Cricket) Break; twist. [Cant]
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   10. (Mech.) The causing of motion against a resisting force,
       measured by the product of the force into the component
       of the motion resolved along the direction of the force.

             Energy is the capacity of doing work. . . . Work is
             the transference of energy from one system to
             another.                             --Clerk
                                                  Maxwell.
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   11. (Mining) Ore before it is dressed.
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   Muscular work (Physiol.), the work done by a muscle through
      the power of contraction.

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

   To set on work, to cause to begin laboring; to set to work.
      [Obs.] --Hooker.

   To set to work, to employ; to cause to engage in any
      business or labor.
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