work
UK: wɜːk | US: wɜːrk
n. activity involving mental or physical effort to achieve a purpose
vt. to engage in labor or exertion
vi. to function or operate effectively
n. a place of employment (e.g., "I’m going to work")
The word "work" traces back to Old English weorc, meaning "physical or mental effort." It shares roots with Proto-Germanic werkan and is related to Dutch werk and German Werk. The core concept of "productive activity" has remained consistent, though its usage expanded to include places of employment and mechanical operation (e.g., "the machine works").
She has a lot of work to finish before the deadline.
He works as a software engineer.
The clock stopped working after the battery died.
They volunteered their time to work on the community garden.
Her dedication to her work earned her a promotion.