work

noun

1
activity directed toward making or doing something
she checked several points needing further work
2
the occupation for which you are paid
he is looking for employment
a lot of people are out of work
3
the total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it)
he studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
Picasso's work can be divided into periods
4
a product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing
it is not regarded as one of his more memorable works
the symphony was hailed as an ingenious work
5
a place where work is done
he arrived at work early today
6
applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)
mastering a second language requires a lot of work
no schools offer graduate study in interior design
7
(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
work equals force times distance

1
give a workout to
Some parents exercise their infants
My personal trainer works me hard
2
arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion
The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times
3
go sour or spoil
The milk has soured
The wine worked
4
cause to undergo fermentation
We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content
The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
5
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
did you solve the problem?
Work out your problems with the boss

Also useful for “work”:Scrabble— High-value letters — see what it scores