Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Task \Task\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tasked}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Tasking}.]
   1. To impose a task upon; to assign a definite amount of
      business, labor, or duty to.

            There task thy maids, and exercise the loom.
                                                  --Dryden.

   2. To oppress with severe or excessive burdens; to tax.

   3. To charge; to tax; as with a fault.

            Too impudent to task me with those errors. --Beau. &
                                                  Fl.

Task \Task\, n. [OE. taske, OF. tasque, F. t[^a]che, for tasche,
   LL. tasca, taxa, fr. L. taxare to rate, appraise, estimate.
   See {Tax}, n. & v.]
   1. Labor or study imposed by another, often in a definite
      quantity or amount.

            Ma task of servile toil.              --Milton.

            Each morning sees some task begin, Each evening sees
            it close.                             --Longfellow.

   2. Business; employment; undertaking; labor.

            His mental powers were equal to greater tasks.
                                                  --Atterbury.

   {To take to task}. See under {Take}.

   Syn: Work; labor; employment; business; toil; drudgery;
        study; lesson; stint.

Source : WordNet®

task
     n 1: any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted; "he
          prepared for great undertakings" [syn: {undertaking}, {project},
           {labor}]
     2: a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or
        for a specific fee; "estimates of the city's loss on that
        job ranged as high as a million dollars"; "the job of
        repairing the engine took several hours"; "the endless
        task of classifying the samples"; "the farmer's morning
        chores" [syn: {job}, {chore}]
     v 1: assign a task to; "I tasked him with looking after the
          children"
     2: use to the limit; "you are taxing my patience" [syn: {tax}]