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works

/wɜːks/

When referring to artistic creations, "works" is a plural noun that describes the overall output of an author or artist. In an industrial context, "works" (like "steel works") refers to a factory and can be treated as either singular or plural depending on regional English usage. As a verb, "works" is the third-person singular present form of "work." It is used when the subject is 'he', 'she', 'it', or a single person/object.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon; Victoria is in a high-stakes board meeting while Mr. Sterling is at his private gallery.
Mr. Sterling

The new silent-desk policy is a symphony of stillness. It works, doesn't it?

Mr. Sterling
Victoria
Victoria

Hardly. Productivity has tanked and the staff are losing their minds.

💡
Mr. Sterling uses 'works' in the sense of functioning correctly or achieving a desired result, though his definition of success is purely aesthetic/philosophical. Victoria counters with 'tanked', a casual term meaning to decline sharply or fail completely, highlighting the disconnect between the CEO's vision and operational reality.

Meanings

noun

The complete set of artistic, literary, or musical compositions produced by a particular person.

"The collected works of William Shakespeare are studied worldwide."

noun

A factory or place where industrial processes take place.

"He spent thirty years working at the steel works."

noun

The internal mechanism of a machine, such as a clock or lock.

"The watchmaker carefully cleaned the inner works of the timepiece."

verb (intransitive)

To function correctly; to achieve the desired result.

"I tried the new software and it works perfectly."

verb (transitive)

To manipulate or shape something by hand or tool.

"The potter works the clay into a delicate vase."

Last Updated: May 22, 2026Report an Error