W

1. The 23rd letter of the modern English alphabet.

2. Any of the speech sounds represented by the letter w.

3. The 23rd in a series.

4. Something shaped like the letter W.

1. weight

2. width

3. Physics work

1. watt

2. Wednesday

3. week

4. 1. west

   2. western

Word History: Days and years are natural divisions of time based on the astronomical relation of the earth and the sun, but weeks and the names for the days of the week have their source in astrology. The practice of dividing the year into seven-day units is based on the ancient astrological notion that the seven celestial bodies (the sun, the moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn) influence what happens on earth and that each controls the first hour of the day named for it. This system was brought into Hellenistic Egypt from Mesopotamia, where astrology had been practiced for millennia and where seven had always been a propitious number. The ancient Romans did not divide their calendar into weeks; they named all the days of the month in relation to the ides, calends, and nones. In A.D. 321 Constantine the Great grafted the Hellenistic astrological system onto the Roman calendar, making the first day of the week a day of rest and worship and imposing the following sequence of names on the days: Diēs Sōlis, "Sun's Day"; Diēs Lūnae, "Moon's Day"; Diēs Martis, "Mars's Day"; Diēs Mercuriī, "Mercury's Day"; Diēs Jovis, "Jove's Day" or "Jupiter's Day"; Diēs Veneris, "Venus's Day"; and Diēs Saturnī, "Saturn's Day." This new Roman system was adopted with modifications throughout most of western Europe. In the Germanic languages, such as Old English, the names of four of the Roman gods were converted into those of the corresponding Germanic gods. Therefore in Old English we have the following names (with their Modern English developments): Sunnandaeg, Sunday; Mōnandaeg, Monday; Tīwesdaeg, Tuesday (Tiu, like Mars, was a god of war); Wōdnesdaeg, Wednesday (Woden, like Mercury, was quick and eloquent); Thunresdaeg, Thursday (Thunor in Old English or Thor in Old Norse, like Jupiter, was lord of the sky; Old Norse Thōrsdagr influenced the English form); Frīgedaeg, Friday (Frigg, like Venus, was the goddess of love); and Saeternesdaeg, Saturday.

1. A measure of the heaviness of an object.

2. The force with which a body is attracted to Earth or another celestial body, equal to the product of the object's mass and the acceleration of gravity.

3. 1. A unit measure of gravitational force: a table of weights and measures.

   2. A system of such measures: avoirdupois weight; troy weight.

   3. A metallic solid used as a standard of comparison in weighing.

   4. An object used to hold something else down.

   5. A counterbalance in a machine.

   6. Sports A heavy object, such as a dumbbell, lifted for exercise or in athletic competition.

   7. Influence, importance, or authority: Her approval carried great weight. See Synonyms at importance.

   8. Ponderous quality: the weight of the speaker's words.

4. The measured heaviness of a specific object: a two-pound weight.

5. An object used principally to exert a force by virtue of its gravitational attraction to Earth, especially:

   1. A metallic solid used as a standard of comparison in weighing.

   2. An object used to hold something else down.

   3. A counterbalance in a machine.

   4. Sports A heavy object, such as a dumbbell, lifted for exercise or in athletic competition.

   5. Influence, importance, or authority: Her approval carried great weight. See Synonyms at importance.

   6. Ponderous quality: the weight of the speaker's words.

6. Excessive fat; corpulence: exercising in order to lose weight.

7. Statistics A factor assigned to a number in a computation, as in determining an average, to make the number's effect on the computation reflect its importance.

8. Oppressiveness; pressure: the weight of responsibilities.

9. The greater part; preponderance: The weight of the evidence is against the defendant.

10. 1. Influence, importance, or authority: Her approval carried great weight. See Synonyms at importance.

    2. Ponderous quality: the weight of the speaker's words.

11. Sports A classification according to comparative lightness or heaviness. Often used in combination: a heavyweight boxer.

12. The heaviness or thickness of a fabric in relation to a particular season or use. Often used in combination: a summerweight jacket.

1. To add to, by or as if by attaching a weight; make heavy or heavier.

2. To load down, burden, or oppress.

3. To increase the weight or body of (fabrics) by treating with chemicals.

4. Statistics To assign weights or a weight to.

5. To cause to have a slant or bias: weighted the rules in favor of homeowners.

6. Sports To assign to (a horse) the weight it must carry as a handicap in a race.

1. Abbr. W

   1. The cardinal point on the mariner's compass 270° clockwise from due north and directly opposite east.

   2. The direction opposite to the direction of the earth's axial rotation.

   3. The western part of the earth, especially Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

   4. The western part of a region or country.

   5. A historical region of the United States west of the Allegheny Mountains.

   6. The region of the United States west of the Mississippi River.

   7. The United States, Canada, and the noncommunist countries of Europe, especially during the Cold War.

   8. The nations of North America and Europe with developed capitalist economies, especially in contrast to less-developed nations.

2. An area or region lying in the west.

3. often West

   1. The western part of the earth, especially Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

   2. The western part of a region or country.

   3. A historical region of the United States west of the Allegheny Mountains.

   4. The region of the United States west of the Mississippi River.

   5. The United States, Canada, and the noncommunist countries of Europe, especially during the Cold War.

   6. The nations of North America and Europe with developed capitalist economies, especially in contrast to less-developed nations.

4. often West

   1. A historical region of the United States west of the Allegheny Mountains.

   2. The region of the United States west of the Mississippi River.

   3. The United States, Canada, and the noncommunist countries of Europe, especially during the Cold War.

   4. The nations of North America and Europe with developed capitalist economies, especially in contrast to less-developed nations.

1. To, toward, of, facing, or in the west.

2. Originating in or coming from the west: a gentle west wind.

1. Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something.

2. 1. A job; employment: looking for work.

   2. A trade, profession, or other means of livelihood.

   3. Something that one is doing, making, or performing, especially as an occupation or undertaking; a duty or task: begin the day's work.

   4. An amount of such activity either done or required: a week's work.

   5. The part of a day devoted to an occupation or undertaking: met her after work.

   6. One's place of employment: Should I call you at home or at work?

   7. Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing: This story is the work of an active imagination. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time.

   8. Full action or effect of an agency: The sleeping pills did their work.

   9. An act; a deed: "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

   10. An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition; a work of art.

   11. works The output of a writer, artist, or musician considered or collected as a whole: the works of Shakespeare.

   12. works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.

   13. A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.

   14. Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.

   15. A piece of such textile art.

   16. Informal The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the: ordered a pizza with the works.

   17. Slang A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the: took him outside and gave him the works.

3. 1. Something that one is doing, making, or performing, especially as an occupation or undertaking; a duty or task: begin the day's work.

   2. An amount of such activity either done or required: a week's work.

   3. The part of a day devoted to an occupation or undertaking: met her after work.

   4. One's place of employment: Should I call you at home or at work?

   5. Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing: This story is the work of an active imagination. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time.

   6. Full action or effect of an agency: The sleeping pills did their work.

   7. An act; a deed: "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

   8. An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition; a work of art.

   9. works The output of a writer, artist, or musician considered or collected as a whole: the works of Shakespeare.

   10. works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.

   11. A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.

   12. Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.

   13. A piece of such textile art.

   14. Informal The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the: ordered a pizza with the works.

   15. Slang A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the: took him outside and gave him the works.

4. 1. The part of a day devoted to an occupation or undertaking: met her after work.

   2. One's place of employment: Should I call you at home or at work?

   3. Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing: This story is the work of an active imagination. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time.

   4. Full action or effect of an agency: The sleeping pills did their work.

   5. An act; a deed: "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

   6. An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition; a work of art.

   7. works The output of a writer, artist, or musician considered or collected as a whole: the works of Shakespeare.

   8. works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.

   9. A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.

   10. Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.

   11. A piece of such textile art.

   12. Informal The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the: ordered a pizza with the works.

   13. Slang A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the: took him outside and gave him the works.

5. 1. Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing: This story is the work of an active imagination. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time.

   2. Full action or effect of an agency: The sleeping pills did their work.

   3. An act; a deed: "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

   4. An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition; a work of art.

   5. works The output of a writer, artist, or musician considered or collected as a whole: the works of Shakespeare.

   6. works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.

   7. A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.

   8. Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.

   9. A piece of such textile art.

   10. Informal The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the: ordered a pizza with the works.

   11. Slang A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the: took him outside and gave him the works.

6. 1. An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition; a work of art.

   2. works The output of a writer, artist, or musician considered or collected as a whole: the works of Shakespeare.

   3. works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.

   4. A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.

   5. Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.

   6. A piece of such textile art.

   7. Informal The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the: ordered a pizza with the works.

   8. Slang A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the: took him outside and gave him the works.

7. 1. works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.

   2. A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.

   3. Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.

   4. A piece of such textile art.

   5. Informal The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the: ordered a pizza with the works.

   6. Slang A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the: took him outside and gave him the works.

8. 1. Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.

   2. A piece of such textile art.

   3. Informal The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the: ordered a pizza with the works.

   4. Slang A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the: took him outside and gave him the works.

9. A material or piece of material being processed in a machine during manufacture: work to be turned in the lathe.

10. works (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A factory, plant, or similar building or complex of buildings where a specific type of business or industry is carried on. Often used in combination: a steelworks.

11. works Internal mechanism: the works of a watch.

12. The manner, style, or quality of working or treatment; workmanship.

13. Abbr. w Physics The transfer of energy from one physical system to another, especially the transfer of energy to a body by the application of a force that moves the body in the direction of the force. It is calculated as the product of the force and the distance through which the body moves and is expressed in joules, ergs, and foot-pounds.

14. works Moral or righteous acts or deeds: salvation by faith rather than works.

15. works

    1. Informal The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the: ordered a pizza with the works.

    2. Slang A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the: took him outside and gave him the works.

1. To exert oneself physically or mentally in order to do, make, or accomplish something.

2. To be employed; have a job.

3. 1. To function; operate: How does this latch work?

   2. To function or operate in the desired or required way: The telephone hasn't worked since the thunderstorm.

   3. To have a given effect or outcome: Our friendship works best when we speak our minds.

   4. To have the desired effect or outcome; prove successful: This recipe seems to work.

   5. To strain in heavy seas so that the joints give slightly and the fastenings become slack. Used of a boat or ship.

   6. To sail against the wind.

4. 1. To have a given effect or outcome: Our friendship works best when we speak our minds.

   2. To have the desired effect or outcome; prove successful: This recipe seems to work.

   3. To strain in heavy seas so that the joints give slightly and the fastenings become slack. Used of a boat or ship.

   4. To sail against the wind.

5. To exert an influence. Used with on or upon: worked on her to join the group.

6. To arrive at a specified condition through gradual or repeated movement: The stitches worked loose.

7. To proceed or progress slowly and laboriously: worked through the underbrush; worked through my problems in therapy.

8. To move in an agitated manner, as with emotion: Her mouth worked with fear.

9. To behave in a specified way when handled or processed: Not all metals work easily.

10. To ferment.

11. Nautical

    1. To strain in heavy seas so that the joints give slightly and the fastenings become slack. Used of a boat or ship.

    2. To sail against the wind.

12. To undergo small motions that result in friction and wear: The gears work against each other.

1. To cause or effect; bring about: working miracles.

2. To cause to operate or function; actuate, use, or manage: worked the controls; can work a lathe.

3. To shape or forge: "Each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor" (Edgar Allan Poe).

4. To make or decorate by needlework: work a sampler.

5. To solve (a problem) by calculation and reasoning.

6. To knead, stir, or otherwise manipulate in preparation: Work the dough before shaping it.

7. To bring to a specified condition by gradual or repeated effort or work: finally worked the window open; worked the slaves to death.

8. To make, achieve, or pay for by work or effort: worked her way to the top; worked his passage on the ship.

9. Informal To arrange or contrive. Often used with it: worked it so that her weekends are free.

10. To make productive; cultivate: work a farm.

11. To cause to work: works his laborers hard.

12. To excite or provoke: worked the mob into a frenzy.

13. Informal

    1. To gratify, cajole, or enchant artfully, especially for the purpose of influencing: The politician worked the crowd. The comedian worked the room with flawless rhythm.

    2. To use or manipulate to one's own advantage; exploit: learned how to work the system; worked his relatives for sympathy.

    3. To increase one's skill, responsibility, efficiency, or status through work: worked up to 30 sit-ups a day; worked up to store manager.

    4. To intensify gradually: The film works up to a thrilling climax.

14. To carry on an operation or function in or through: the agent who works that area; working the phones for donations.

15. To ferment (liquor, for example).

16. To insert or introduce: worked in a request for money.

17. To make an opening for, as in a schedule: said the doctor would try to work her in.

18. To cause to be inserted by repeated or continuous effort.

19. To insert or introduce into.

20. To make an opening for (someone or something) in: worked a few field trips into the semester's calendar.

21. To cause to be inserted in by repeated or continuous effort: worked the pick into the lock.

22. To accomplish by work or effort.

23. To find a solution for; solve: worked out the equations; worked out their personal differences.

24. To formulate or develop: work out a plan.

25. To discharge (an obligation or debt) with labor in place of money.

26. To prove successful, effective, or satisfactory: The new strategy may not work out.

27. To have a specified result: The ratio works out to an odd number. It worked out that everyone left on the same train.

28. To engage in strenuous exercise for physical conditioning.

29. To exhaust (a mine, for example).

30. To do for a second time; rework.

31. Slang To inflict severe physical damage on; beat up.

32. To arouse the emotions of; excite.

33. 1. To increase one's skill, responsibility, efficiency, or status through work: worked up to 30 sit-ups a day; worked up to store manager.

    2. To intensify gradually: The film works up to a thrilling climax.

34. To develop or produce by mental or physical effort: worked up a patient profile; worked up an appetite.

1. To insert or introduce: worked in a request for money.

2. To make an opening for, as in a schedule: said the doctor would try to work her in.

3. To cause to be inserted by repeated or continuous effort.

1. To insert or introduce into.

2. To make an opening for (someone or something) in: worked a few field trips into the semester's calendar.

3. To cause to be inserted in by repeated or continuous effort: worked the pick into the lock.

1. To accomplish by work or effort.

2. To find a solution for; solve: worked out the equations; worked out their personal differences.

3. To formulate or develop: work out a plan.

4. To discharge (an obligation or debt) with labor in place of money.

5. To prove successful, effective, or satisfactory: The new strategy may not work out.

6. To have a specified result: The ratio works out to an odd number. It worked out that everyone left on the same train.

7. To engage in strenuous exercise for physical conditioning.

8. To exhaust (a mine, for example).

1. To do for a second time; rework.

2. Slang To inflict severe physical damage on; beat up.

1. To arouse the emotions of; excite.

2. 1. To increase one's skill, responsibility, efficiency, or status through work: worked up to 30 sit-ups a day; worked up to store manager.

   2. To intensify gradually: The film works up to a thrilling climax.

3. To develop or produce by mental or physical effort: worked up a patient profile; worked up an appetite.

1. Engaged in labor; working: at work on a new project.

2. In operation: inflationary forces at work in the economy.

Synonyms: These nouns refer to physical or mental effort expended to produce or accomplish something. Work is the most widely applicable: "Which of us ... is to do the hard and dirty work for the rest—and for what pay?" (John Ruskin). "A work that aspires ... to the condition of art should carry its justification in every line" (Joseph Conrad).
Labor usually implies human work, especially of a hard physical or intellectual nature: "garner the fruits of their own labors" (Roger Casement).
Toil applies principally to strenuous, fatiguing labor: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat" (Winston S. Churchill).
Drudgery suggests dull, wearisome, or monotonous work: "the drudgery of penning definitions and marking quotations for transcription" (Thomas Macaulay).
Travail connotes arduous work involving pain or suffering: "prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth" (Henry Beston).

1. tungsten

2. watt

3. Wednesday

4. week

5. Welsh, west

6. western

7. White (as in personal ads)

8. widowed (as in personal ads)

9. windy

10. with (shortwave transmission)