Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Work \Work\, n. [OE. work, werk, weork, 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. ?, ?,
   work, ? to do, ? an instrument, ? secret rites, Zend verez to
   work. ????. Cf. {Bulwark}, {Energy}, {Erg}, {Georgic},
   {Liturgy}, {Metallurgy}, {Organ}, {Surgeon}, {Wright}.]
   1. Exertion of strength or faculties; physical or
      intellectual effort directed to an end; industrial
      activity; toil; employment; sometimes, specifically,
      physically labor.

            Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed.
                                                  --Milton.

   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.

            Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand That you yet
            know not of.                          --Shak.

            In every work that he began . . . he did it with all
            his heart, and prospered.             --2 Chron.
                                                  xxxi. 21.

   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.

            To leave no rubs or blotches in the work. --Shak.

            The work some praise, And some the architect.
                                                  --Milton.

            Fancy . . . Wild work produces oft, and most in
            dreams.                               --Milton.

            The composition or dissolution of mixed bodies . . .
            is the chief work of elements.        --Sir K.
                                                  Digby.

   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.

                I am glad I have found this napkin; . . . I'll
                have the work ta'en out, And give 't Iago.
                                                  --Shak.
      (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.

   5. Manner of working; management; treatment; as, unskillful
      work spoiled the effect. --Bp. Stillingfleet.

   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}.

            Energy is the capacity of doing work . . . Work is
            the transference of energy from one system to
            another.                              --Clerk
                                                  Maxwell.

   7. (Mining) Ore before it is dressed. --Raymond.

   8. pl. (Script.) Performance of moral duties; righteous
      conduct.

            He shall reward every man according to his works.
                                                  --Matt. xvi.
                                                  27.

            Faith, if it hath not works, is dead. --James ii.
                                                  17.

   {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.