Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Work \Work\, v. t.
   1. To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to;
      to prepare for use, or to utilize, by labor.

            He could have told them of two or three gold mines,
            and a silver mine, and given the reason why they
            forbare to work them at that time.    --Sir W.
                                                  Raleigh.

   2. To produce or form by labor; to bring forth by exertion or
      toil; to accomplish; to originate; to effect; as, to work
      wood or iron into a form desired, or into a utensil; to
      work cotton or wool into cloth.

            Each herb he knew, that works or good or ill.
                                                  --Harte.

   3. To produce by slow degrees, or as if laboriously; to bring
      gradually into any state by action or motion. ``Sidelong
      he works his way.'' --Milton.

            So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stains Of
            rushing torrents and descending rains, Works itself
            clear, and as it runs, refines, Till by degrees the
            floating mirror shines.               --Addison.

   4. To influence by acting upon; to prevail upon; to manage;
      to lead. ``Work your royal father to his ruin.''
      --Philips.

   5. To form with a needle and thread or yarn; especially, to
      embroider; as, to work muslin.

   6. To set in motion or action; to direct the action of; to
      keep at work; to govern; to manage; as, to work a machine.

            Knowledge in building and working ships.
                                                  --Arbuthnot.

            Now, Marcus, thy virtue's the proof; Put forth thy
            utmost strength, work every nerve.    --Addison.

            The mariners all 'gan work the ropes, Where they
            were wont to do.                      --Coleridge.

   7. To cause to ferment, as liquor.

   {To work a passage} (Naut.), to pay for a passage by doing
      work.

   {To work double tides} (Naut.), to perform the labor of three
      days in two; -- a phrase which alludes to a practice of
      working by the night tide as well as by the day.

   {To work in}, to insert, introduce, mingle, or interweave by
      labor or skill.

   {To work into}, to force, urge, or insinuate into; as, to
      work one's self into favor or confidence.

   {To work off}, to remove gradually, as by labor, or a gradual
      process; as, beer works off impurities in fermenting.

   {To work out}.
      (a) To effect by labor and exertion. ``Work out your own
          salvation with fear and trembling.'' --Phil. ii. 12.
      (b) To erase; to efface. [R.]

                Tears of joy for your returning spilt, Work out
                and expiate our former guilt.     --Dryden.
      (c) To solve, as a problem.
      (d) To exhaust, as a mine, by working.

   {To work up}.
      (a) To raise; to excite; to stir up; as, to work up the
          passions to rage.

                The sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their
                heads, Works up more fire and color in their
                cheeks.                           --Addison.
      (b) To expend in any work, as materials; as, they have
          worked up all the stock.
      (c) (Naut.) To make over or into something else, as yarns
          drawn from old rigging, made into spun yarn, foxes,
          sennit, and the like; also, to keep constantly at work
          upon needless matters, as a crew in order to punish
          them. --R. H. Dana, Jr.