| abstract
(for
adj., ab strakt, abstrakt; for n. 1 & vt. 4, abstrakt; for n. 2, abstrakt,
ab strakt; for vt. 1, 2, & 3, ab strakt)
adj. 1 thought of apart from any particular instances or material objects; not concrete 2 expressing a quality thought of apart from any particular or material object [beauty is an abstract word] 3 not easy to understand; abstruse 4 theoretical; not practical or applied 5 designating or of art abstracted from reality, in which designs or forms may be definite and geometric or fluid and amorphous: a generic term that encompasses various nonrealistic contemporary schools n. 1 a brief statement of the essential content of a book, article, speech, court record, etc.; summary 2 an abstract thing, condition, idea, etc. vt. 1 to take away; remove 2 to take dishonestly; steal 3 to think of (a quality) apart from any particular instance or material object that has it; also, to form (a general idea) from particular instances 4 to summarize; make an abstract of SYN. abridgment in the abstract in theory as apart from practice abstracter n. abstractly adv. abstractness n. Etymology
(C)1995 ZCI Publishing, Inc. (C)1994, 1991, 1988 Simon &
Schuster, Inc.
|
concrete
(kankret; also, and for vt. 1 & vi. usually, kan kret)
adj. 1 formed into a solid mass; coalesced 2 having a material, perceptible existence; of, belonging to, or characterized by things or events that can be perceived by the senses; real; actual 3 referring to a particular; specific, not general or abstract 4 made of concrete 5 Gram. designating a thing or class of things that can be perceived by the senses [a concrete noun]: opposed to abstract n. 1 a concrete thing, condition, idea, etc. 2 a hard, compact building material formed when a mixture of cement, sand, gravel, and water dries: used in making bridges, road surfaces, etc. vt. -creted, -creting 1 to form into a mass; solidify 2 to make of, or cover with, concrete vi. to solidify concretely adv. concreteness n. Etymology
(C)1995 ZCI Publishing, Inc. (C)1994, 1991, 1988 Simon &
Schuster, Inc.
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work
(wurk)
n. 1 physical or mental effort exerted to do or make something; purposeful activity; labor; toil 2 employment at a job or in a position 3 occupation, profession, business, trade, craft, etc. 4 a) something one is making, doing, or acting upon, esp. as part of one's occupation or duty; task; undertaking [to bring work home from the office] b) the amount of this [a day's work] 5 something that has been made or done; result of a specific kind of activity or way of working [to have dental work done, skillful brushwork]; specif., a) an act; deed (usually used in pl.) [a person of good works] b) [pl.] collected writings [the works of Poe] c) [pl.] engineering structures, as bridges, dams, docks, etc. d) a fortification e) needlework; embroidery f) work of art 6 material that is being or is to be processed, as in a machine tool, in some state of manufacture 7 [pl., with sing. v.] a place where work is done, as a factory, public utility plant, etc.: often in combination [steelworks, gasworks] 8 manner, style, quality, rate, etc. of working; workmanship 9 foam due to fermentation, as in cider 10 the action of, or effect produced by, natural forces 11 Mech. the product of force and the amount of displacement in the direction of that force: it is the means by which energy is transferred from one object or system to another 12 [pl.] Theol. acts done in compliance with religious laws or duties or aimed at fulfilling religious ideals adj. of, for, or used in work vi. worked or wrought, working [OE wyrcan, wercan] 1 to exert oneself in order to do or make something; do work; labor; toil 2 to be employed 3 a) to perform its required or expected function; operate or act as specified b) to operate effectively; be effectual [a makeshift arrangement that works] 4 to undergo fermentation 5 to produce results or exert an influence [let it work in their minds] 6 to be manipulated, kneaded, etc. [putty that works easily] 7 to move, proceed, etc. slowly and with or as with difficulty 8 to move, twitch, etc. as from agitation [his face worked with emotion] 9 to change into a specified condition, as by repeated movement [the door worked loose] 10 Naut. to strain, as in a storm, so that the fastenings become slack: said of a ship vt. 1 to cause; bring about; effect [an idea that worked harm] 2 to mold; shape; form [to work silver] 3 to sew, embroider, etc. [to work a sampler] 4 to solve (a mathematical problem, puzzle, etc.) 5 to draw, paint, carve, etc. (a portrait or likeness) 6 to manipulate; knead [to work dough] 7 to bring into a specified condition, as by movement back and forth [to work a nail loose] 8 to cultivate (soil) 9 to cause to function; operate; manage; use [to work a pump] 10 to cause fermentation in 11 to cause to work [to work a crew hard] 12 to influence; persuade [to work someone around to one's way of thinking] 13 to make (one's way, passage, etc.) by work or effort 14 to provoke; rouse; excite [to work oneself into a rage] 15 to carry on activity in, along, etc.; cover [a salesman working his territory] 16 [Colloq.] to make use of, esp. by artful contriving [to work one's connections] 17 [Colloq.] to use one's influence, charm, etc. on (a person) to gain some profit or advantage 18 [Slang] to move through (a crowd or room) greeting people, shaking hands, etc.: said esp. of a politician at work 1 working or engaged in work 2 operating [unseen forces were at work on the economy] get the works [Slang] to be the victim of extreme measures give someone the works [Slang] 1 to murder someone 2 to subject someone to an ordeal, either maliciously or jokingly in the works [Colloq.] in the process of being planned or done make short (or quick) work of to deal with or dispose of quickly out of work without a job; unemployed shoot the works [Slang] 1 to risk everything on one chance or play 2 to make a supreme effort or attempt the works 1 the working parts or mechanism (of a watch, clock, etc.) 2 [Colloq.] a) all possible accessories, extras, etc. b) everything that can be included (usually the whole works) work in 1 to introduce or insert 2 to be introduced or inserted work off 1 to get rid of or dissipate, as by exertion 2 to pay (a debt or obligation) by work rather than with money work on (or upon) 1 to influence 2 to try to persuade work out 1 to make its way out, as from being embedded 2 to exhaust (a mine, etc.) 3 work off (sense 2) 4 to bring about by work; accomplish 5 to solve 6 to calculate 7 to result in some way [things did not work out as planned] 8 to add up to a total (at a specified amount) 9 to develop; elaborate 10 to put into practice 11 to engage in a training session or program for physical fitness or athletic skill work over 1 to work or do again 2 [Colloq.] to subject to harsh or cruel treatment, as by beating, torture, etc. work up 1 to make one's (or its) way up; advance; rise 2 to manipulate, mix, etc. into a specified object or shape 3 to develop; elaborate 4 to acquire knowledge of or skill at 5 to arouse; excite 6 [Slang] to bring about or cause (a sweat) by vigorous activity Etymology
(C)1995 ZCI Publishing, Inc. (C)1994, 1991, 1988 Simon &
Schuster, Inc.
|
work (wurk)
n.
1 physical or mental effort exerted to do or make something; purposeful
activity; labor; toil
2 employment at a job or in a position
3 occupation, profession, business, trade, craft, etc.
4 a) something one is making, doing, or acting upon, esp. as part of
one's occupation or duty; task; undertaking [to bring work home from the
office] b) the amount of this [a day's work]
5 something that has been made or done; result of a specific kind of
activity or way of working [to have dental work done, skillful brushwork];
specif., a) an act; deed (usually used in pl.) [a person of good works]
b) [pl.] collected writings [the works of Poe] c) [pl.] engineering structures,
as bridges, dams, docks, etc. d) a fortification e) needlework; embroidery
f) work of art
6 material that is being or is to be processed, as in a machine tool,
in some state of manufacture
7 [pl., with sing. v.] a place where work
is done, as a factory, public utility plant, etc.: often in combination
[steelworks, gasworks]
8 manner, style, quality, rate, etc. of working; workmanship
9 foam due to fermentation, as in cider
10 the action of, or effect produced by, natural forces
11 Mech. the product of force and the amount of displacement in the
direction of that force: it is the means by which energy is transferred
from one object or system to another
12 [pl.] Theol. acts done in compliance with religious laws or duties
or aimed at fulfilling religious ideals
adj.
of, for, or used in work
vi.
worked or wrought, working [OE wyrcan, wercan]
1 to exert oneself in order to do or make something; do work; labor;
toil
2 to be employed
3 a) to perform its required or expected function; operate or act as
specified b) to operate effectively; be effectual [a makeshift arrangement
that works]
4 to undergo fermentation
5 to produce results or exert an influence [let it work in their minds]
6 to be manipulated, kneaded, etc. [putty that works easily]
7 to move, proceed, etc. slowly and with or as with difficulty
8 to move, twitch, etc. as from agitation [his face worked with emotion]
9 to change into a specified condition, as by repeated movement [the
door worked loose]
10 Naut. to strain, as in a storm, so that the fastenings become slack:
said of a ship
vt.
1 to cause; bring about; effect [an idea that worked harm]
2 to mold; shape; form [to work silver]
3 to sew, embroider, etc. [to work a sampler]
4 to solve (a mathematical problem, puzzle, etc.)
5 to draw, paint, carve, etc. (a portrait or likeness)
6 to manipulate; knead [to work dough]
7 to bring into a specified condition, as by movement back and forth
[to work a nail loose]
8 to cultivate (soil)
9 to cause to function; operate; manage; use [to work a pump]
10 to cause fermentation in
11 to cause to work [to work a crew hard]
12 to influence; persuade [to work someone around to one's way of thinking]
13 to make (one's way, passage, etc.) by work or effort
14 to provoke; rouse; excite [to work oneself into a rage]
15 to carry on activity in, along, etc.; cover [a salesman working
his territory]
16 [Colloq.] to make use of, esp. by artful contriving [to work one's
connections]
17 [Colloq.] to use one's influence, charm, etc. on (a person) to gain
some profit or advantage
18 [Slang] to move through (a crowd or room) greeting people, shaking
hands, etc.: said esp. of a politician
at work
1 working or engaged in work
2 operating [unseen forces were at work on the economy]
get the works [Slang] to be the victim of extreme measures
give someone the works [Slang]
1 to murder someone
2 to subject someone to an ordeal, either maliciously or jokingly
in the works
[Colloq.] in the process of being planned or done
make short (or quick) work of to deal with or dispose of quickly
out of work
without a job; unemployed
shoot the works [Slang]
1 to risk everything on one chance or play
2 to make a supreme effort or attempt
the works
1 the working parts or mechanism (of a watch, clock, etc.)
2 [Colloq.] a) all possible accessories, extras, etc. b) everything
that can be included (usually the whole works)
work in
1 to introduce or insert
2 to be introduced or inserted
work off
1 to get rid of or dissipate, as by exertion
2 to pay (a debt or obligation) by work rather than with money
work on (or upon)
1 to influence
2 to try to persuade
work out
1 to make its way out, as from being embedded
2 to exhaust (a mine, etc.)
3 work off (sense 2)
4 to bring about by work; accomplish
5 to solve
6 to calculate
7 to result in some way [things did not work out as planned]
8 to add up to a total (at a specified amount)
9 to develop; elaborate
10 to put into practice
11 to engage in a training session or program for physical fitness
or athletic skill
work over
1 to work or do again
2 [Colloq.] to subject to harsh or cruel treatment, as by beating,
torture, etc.
work up
1 to make one's (or its) way up; advance; rise
2 to manipulate, mix, etc. into a specified object or shape
3 to develop; elaborate
4 to acquire knowledge of or skill at
5 to arouse; excite
6 [Slang] to bring about or cause (a sweat) by vigorous activity
Etymology
[ME werk < OE weorc, akin to Ger werk < IE base *werG-, to do,
act > Gr ergon (for *wergon), action, work, organon, tool, instrument]
(C)1995 ZCI Publishing, Inc. (C)1994, 1991, 1988 Simon &
Schuster, Inc.