working
nounverbadjectivetop 1 000 in film dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈwɜːkɪŋ//
- United States//ˈwɝkɪŋ//
Operation; action.
noun
- 1
Operation; action.
- 2
Method of operation.
- 3
The incidental or subsidiary calculations performed in solving an overall problem.
Be sure to check your working.
- 4
Fermentation.
- 5
Becoming full of a vegetable substance.
- 6
A place where work is carried on.
the abandoned mine workings
- 7
A train movement.
From time to time the coaches of the Lötschberg Railway itself, which in comfort and décor can rank with the finest in Europe today, travel far from the frontiers of Switzerland on through workings such as these.
Etymology
From Middle English werking, werkynge, warkynge, worchinge, from Old English wyrċing (“working”), verbal noun of wyrċan (“to work”), equivalent to work + -ing. Cognate with Scots wirking, warking, Dutch werking, German Wirkung.
verb
- 1
Also a form of workpresent participle and gerund of work
Leave him alone; he’s working.
Etymology
From Middle English workyng, wirkynge, worchinge, werchinge, workinde, wirkand, worchende, wurchende, from Old English wyrċende, from Proto-Germanic *wurkijandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *wurkijaną (“to work”), equivalent to work + -ing. Compare Scots wirkand, werkand, warkand (“working”), Dutch werkend (“working, acting”), German wirkend (“acting, working”).
adjective
- 1
That is or are functioning.
a working ventilator
- 2
That suffices but requires additional work; provisional.
a working copy of the script
a working title
- 3
In paid employment.
Working mothers have recently joined the factory's workforce.
- 4
Of or relating to employment.
the working week
- 5
Enough to allow one to use something.
have a working knowledge of computers
- 6
Used in real life; practical.
The working minimum focus distance is the distance from the closest focusable subject to the lens.
- 7
obsoleteEfficacious.
You ſee my Lord, what woorking woordes hee hath. But when you ſee his actions ſtop ^([sic – meaning top]) his ſpeech, Your ſpeech will ſtay, or ſo extol his worth, As I ſhalbe commended and excuſde For turning my poore charge to his direction.
Forms
- plural
- workings