out of work

英：[ˌaʊt əv ˈwɜːk]

美：[ˌaʊt əv ˈwɜːrk]

verb

intransitive verb

to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary

works in publishing

to perform or carry through a task requiring sustained effort or continuous repeated operations

worked all day over a hot stove

to exert oneself physically or mentally especially in sustained effort for a purpose or under compulsion or necessity

to function or operate according to plan or design

hinges work better with oil

to produce a desired effect or result : succeed

a plan that will work

to exert an influence or tendency

to make way slowly and with difficulty : move or progress laboriously

worked up to the presidency

to sail to windward

to move slightly in relation to another part

to get into a specified condition by slow or imperceptible movements

the knot worked loose

to be in agitation or restless motion

ferment sense 1

to permit of being worked : react in a specified way to being worked

this wood works easily

transitive verb

to set or keep in motion, operation, or activity : cause to operate or produce work farmland

a pump worked by hand

to bring to pass : effect

work miracles

to solve (a problem) by reasoning or calculation—often used with out

to cause to toil or labor

worked their horses nearly to death

to make use of : exploit

to control or guide the operation of

switches are worked from a central tower

to carry on an operation or perform a job through, at, in, or along a sportscaster hired to work the game

the peddler worked the corner

to greet and talk with in a friendly way in order to ingratiate oneself or achieve a purpose worked the room

politicians working the crowd

to pay for or achieve with labor or service worked my way up in the company

worked my way through college

to prepare for use by stirring or kneading

to bring into a desired form by a gradual process of cutting, hammering, scraping, pressing, or stretching

work cold steel

to fashion or create a useful or desired product by expending labor or exertion on : forge, shape

work flint into tools

to make or decorate with needleworkespecially: embroider

to get (oneself or an object) into or out of a condition or position by gradual stages

contrive, arrange

we can work it so that you can take your vacation

excite, provoke

worked myself into a rage

to practice trickery or cajolery on for some end

worked the management for a free ticket

noun

activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something:

activity that a person engages in regularly to earn a livelihood

people looking for work

a specific task, duty, function, or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity

sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result

one's place of employment

didn't go to work today

something produced or accomplished by effort, exertion, or exercise of skill

this book is the work of many hands

something produced by the exercise of creative talent or expenditure of creative effort : artistic production

an early work by a major writer

something that results from a particular manner or method of working, operating, or devising clever camera work

careful police work

something that results from the use or fashioning of a particular material

porcelain work

works plural structures in engineering (such as docks, bridges, or embankments) or mining (such as shafts or tunnels)

a fortified structure (such as a fort, earthen barricade, or trench)

works plural in form but singular or plural in construction a place where industrial labor is carried on : plant, factory

works plural the working or moving parts of a mechanism

the works of a clock

everything possessed, available, or belonging ordered pizza with the works

the whole works, rod, reel, tackle box, went overboard

subjection to drastic treatment : all possible abuse—usually used with get or givegave them the works

get the works

the transference of energy that is produced by the motion of the point of application of a force and is measured by multiplying the force and the displacement of its point of application in the line of action

energy expended by natural phenomena

the result of such energy

sand dunes are the work of sea and wind

effective operation : effect, result

wait for time to do its healing work

manner of working : workmanship, execution

works plural performance of moral or religious acts

salvation by works

the material or piece of material that is operated upon at any stage in the process of manufacture

adjective

suitable or styled for wear while working

work clothes

used for work

a work elephant

involving or engaged in work work hours

a work crew

verb

intransitive verb

to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary

works in publishing

to perform or carry through a task requiring sustained effort or continuous repeated operations

worked all day over a hot stove

to exert oneself physically or mentally especially in sustained effort for a purpose or under compulsion or necessity

to function or operate according to plan or design

hinges work better with oil

to produce a desired effect or result : succeed

a plan that will work

to exert an influence or tendency

to make way slowly and with difficulty : move or progress laboriously

worked up to the presidency

to sail to windward

to move slightly in relation to another part

to get into a specified condition by slow or imperceptible movements

the knot worked loose

to be in agitation or restless motion

ferment sense 1

to permit of being worked : react in a specified way to being worked

this wood works easily

transitive verb

to set or keep in motion, operation, or activity : cause to operate or produce work farmland

a pump worked by hand

to bring to pass : effect

work miracles

to solve (a problem) by reasoning or calculation—often used with out

to cause to toil or labor

worked their horses nearly to death

to make use of : exploit

to control or guide the operation of

switches are worked from a central tower

to carry on an operation or perform a job through, at, in, or along a sportscaster hired to work the game

the peddler worked the corner

to greet and talk with in a friendly way in order to ingratiate oneself or achieve a purpose worked the room

politicians working the crowd

to pay for or achieve with labor or service worked my way up in the company

worked my way through college

to prepare for use by stirring or kneading

to bring into a desired form by a gradual process of cutting, hammering, scraping, pressing, or stretching

work cold steel

to fashion or create a useful or desired product by expending labor or exertion on : forge, shape

work flint into tools

to make or decorate with needleworkespecially: embroider

to get (oneself or an object) into or out of a condition or position by gradual stages

contrive, arrange

we can work it so that you can take your vacation

excite, provoke

worked myself into a rage

to practice trickery or cajolery on for some end

worked the management for a free ticket

noun

activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something:

activity that a person engages in regularly to earn a livelihood

people looking for work

a specific task, duty, function, or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity

sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result

one's place of employment

didn't go to work today

something produced or accomplished by effort, exertion, or exercise of skill

this book is the work of many hands

something produced by the exercise of creative talent or expenditure of creative effort : artistic production

an early work by a major writer

something that results from a particular manner or method of working, operating, or devising clever camera work

careful police work

something that results from the use or fashioning of a particular material

porcelain work

works plural structures in engineering (such as docks, bridges, or embankments) or mining (such as shafts or tunnels)

a fortified structure (such as a fort, earthen barricade, or trench)

works plural in form but singular or plural in construction a place where industrial labor is carried on : plant, factory

works plural the working or moving parts of a mechanism

the works of a clock

everything possessed, available, or belonging ordered pizza with the works

the whole works, rod, reel, tackle box, went overboard

subjection to drastic treatment : all possible abuse—usually used with get or givegave them the works

get the works

the transference of energy that is produced by the motion of the point of application of a force and is measured by multiplying the force and the displacement of its point of application in the line of action

energy expended by natural phenomena

the result of such energy

sand dunes are the work of sea and wind

effective operation : effect, result

wait for time to do its healing work

manner of working : workmanship, execution

works plural performance of moral or religious acts

salvation by works

the material or piece of material that is operated upon at any stage in the process of manufacture

adjective

suitable or styled for wear while working

work clothes

used for work

a work elephant

involving or engaged in work work hours

a work crew

Verb Middle English werken, worken, from Old English wyrcan; akin to Old English weorc Noun Middle English werk, work, from Old English werc, weorc; akin to Old High German werc work, Greek ergon, Avestan varəzem activity

The first known use of work was before the 12th century

out-of-the-wayadjective

being off the usual paths

an out-of-the-way village

not commonly found or met : unusual

the store specializes in out-of-the-way books

out-of-the-wayadjective

being off the usual paths

an out-of-the-way village

not commonly found or met : unusual

the store specializes in out-of-the-way books

work1 of 3noun

the use of one's strength or ability to get something done or to achieve a result : labor, toil

the work done as one's regular jobalso: the place of one's employment

didn't go to work today

something to be done : task

have work to do

the energy used when a force is applied over a given distance

something that results from a particular manner or method of working, operating, or devising

careful police work

something that results from the use or shaping of a particular material

porcelain work

a fortified structure (as a fort or trench)

plural a place where industrial labor is done : plant, factory

cement works

plural the working or moving parts of a mechanical device

the works of a watch

something produced by hard work or skill

a writer's first work

manner of working : workmanship

careless work

everything available, possessed, or belonging

a hamburger with the works

the harshest treatment possible

gave him the works

work2 of 3adjective

used for work

a work elephant

suitable for wear while working

work clothes

work3 of 3verb

to bring about : effect

work a cure

to prepare by stirring or shaping

work dough

to bring into a desired form by a manufacturing process

work cold steel

to set or keep in motion or operation

a pump worked by hand

to solve by reasoning or figuring

work an arithmetic problem

to cause to labor

worked the crew hard

to make use of : exploit

work a mine

to pay for with labor

work off a debt

to get into or out of a state or position by stages

worked the boat loose

contrive sense 3, arrange

work it so that you can leave soon

excite sense 1, provoke

worked myself into a rage

to make an effort especially for a long period

to perform a task requiring extended effort or repeated operations

to perform work regularly for wages

works in advertising

to function or operate properly

hinges work better with oil

to produce a desired effect : succeed

my plan worked

to move gradually into a certain position or state

the knot worked loose