Work vs. Heat — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 15, 2024
Work and heat are two forms of energy transfer; work is energy transferred by a force moving an object, while heat is energy transferred due to temperature difference.
Difference Between Work and Heat
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Work is defined in physics as the process of energy transfer that occurs when a force is applied to an object causing it to move. The key here is that movement must occur for work to be done. This movement can be in any direction as long as it is in the direction of the force applied. While heat is energy transferred between systems (or a system and its surroundings) due to a temperature difference, regardless of any movement. Heat naturally flows from a hotter object to a cooler one until thermal equilibrium is reached.
The scientific unit of measurement for both work and heat is the joule in the International System of Units (SI). This unit measures the amount of energy transferred, but the mechanisms of transfer are fundamentally different. While work involves mechanical energy transfer through movement and force, heat involves thermal energy transfer through microscopic collisions of particles.
In thermodynamics, the distinction between work and heat becomes important in the study of energy systems, such as engines and refrigerators. While engines may convert heat from burning fuel into work, refrigerators use work (usually supplied by electricity) to move heat from a cooler interior to a warmer exterior.
Another way to distinguish between work and heat is through their effects on a system. Work can change the kinetic and potential energies of a system, typically resulting in mechanical motion or deformation. Whereas heat specifically changes the internal energy of a system, which is often manifested as a change in temperature or state of matter (e.g., melting or vaporization).
Comparison Chart
Definition
Energy transfer through force and movement.
Energy transfer due to temperature difference.
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Required Conditions
Requires force and displacement in the direction of the force.
Requires a temperature difference between systems.
Units
Measured in joules (J).
Measured in joules (J).
Effects on System
Changes kinetic or potential energy, leading to movement or deformation.
Changes internal energy, often leading to temperature change or phase change.
Example Processes
Lifting a weight, compressing a spring.
Heating water, melting ice.
Compare with Definitions
Work
Transfer of energy through mechanical means, requiring movement.
Pulling a wagon up a hill performs work against gravity.
Heat
Can occur without any macroscopic movement.
Heat radiating from a fire to your hands.
Work
Calculated as the product of force and displacement in the direction of the force.
Pushing a shopping cart across a parking lot involves work.
Heat
Always flows from a hotter to a cooler body until equilibrium is reached.
A hot coffee cup cools down in a cooler room.
Work
Can be done by various types of forces, including gravitational and elastic forces.
Compressing a spring does work on the spring.
Heat
In thermodynamics, heat is energy in transfer to or from a thermodynamic system, by mechanisms other than thermodynamic work or transfer of matter. The various mechanisms of energy transfer that define heat are stated in the next section of this article.
Work
Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something
Cleaning the basement was a lot of work.
Heat
A form of energy associated with the kinetic energy of atoms or molecules and capable of being transmitted through solid and fluid media by conduction, through fluid media by convection, and through empty space by radiation.
Work
Such effort or activity by which one makes a living; employment
Looking for work.
Heat
The transfer of energy from one body to another as a result of a difference in temperature or a change in phase.
Work
A trade, profession, or other means of livelihood
His work is fixing cars.
Heat
The sensation or perception of such energy as warmth or hotness.
Work
The part of a day devoted to an occupation or undertaking
Met her after work.
Heat
An abnormally high bodily temperature, as from a fever.
Work
One's place of employment
Should I call you at home or at work?.
Heat
The condition of being hot.
Work
Something that one is doing, making, or performing, especially as an occupation or undertaking; a duty or task
Begin the day's work.
Heat
A degree of warmth or hotness
The burner was on low heat.
Work
An amount of such activity either done or required
A week's work.
Heat
The warming of a room or building by a furnace or another source of energy
The house was cheap to rent, but the heat was expensive.
Work
The action or effect of an agency
The antibiotic seems to be doing its work.
Heat
A furnace or other source of warmth in a room or building
The heat was on when we returned from work.
Work
Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing
This scheme was the work of a criminal mastermind. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time.
Heat
A hot season; a spell of hot weather.
Work
An act; a deed
"I have seen all the works that are done under the sun.
And, behold, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:14).
Heat
Intensity, as of passion, emotion, color, appearance, or effect.
Work
An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition, or a creative result of other human activity
An early work of Matisse.
A scholarly work of great importance.
Heat
The most intense or active stage
The heat of battle.
Work
Works The output of a writer, artist, or composer considered or collected as a whole
The works of Bach.
Heat
A burning sensation in the mouth produced by spicy flavoring in food.
Work
Works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.
Heat
Estrus.
Work
A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.
Heat
One of a series of efforts or attempts.
Work
Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.
Heat
Sports & Games One round of several in a competition, such as a race.
Work
A piece of such textile art.
Heat
A preliminary contest held to determine finalists.
Work
A material or piece of material being processed in a machine during manufacture
Work to be turned in the lathe.
Heat
(Informal) Pressure; stress.
Work
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.
Heat
An intensification of police activity in pursuing criminals.
Work
Works Internal mechanism
The works of a watch.
Heat
The police. Used with the.
Work
The manner, style, or quality of working or treatment; workmanship.
Heat
(Slang) Adverse comments or hostile criticism
Heat from the press forced the senator to resign.
Work
Abbr. w(Physics) The transfer of energy from one physical system to another, especially the application of a force to move a body in a certain direction. It is calculated as the product of the force and the distance over which it is applied and is expressed in joules, ergs, and foot-pounds.
Heat
(Slang) A firearm, especially a pistol.
Work
Works Moral or righteous acts or deeds
Salvation by faith rather than works.
Heat
To make warm or hot.
Work
(Informal) The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the
Ordered a pizza with the works.
Heat
To excite the feelings of; inflame.
Work
(Slang) A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the
Took him outside and gave him the works.
Heat
(Physics) To increase the heat energy of (an object).
Work
Of, relating to, designed for, or engaged in work.
Heat
To become warm or hot.
Work
To exert oneself physically or mentally in order to do, make, or accomplish something.
Heat
To become excited emotionally or intellectually.
Work
To be employed; have a job.
Heat
(uncountable) Thermal energy.
This furnace puts out 5000 BTUs of heat.
That engine is really throwing off some heat.
Removal of heat from the liquid caused it to turn into a solid.
Work
To function; operate
How does this latch work?.
Heat
(uncountable) The condition or quality of being hot.
Stay out of the heat of the sun!
Work
To function or operate in the desired or required way
The telephone hasn't worked since the thunderstorm.
Heat
(uncountable) An attribute of a spice that causes a burning sensation in the mouth.
The chili sauce gave the dish heat.
Work
To have a given effect or outcome
Our friendship works best when we speak our minds.
Heat
(uncountable) A period of intensity, particularly of emotion.
It's easy to make bad decisions in the heat of the moment.
Work
To have the desired effect or outcome; prove successful
This recipe seems to work.
Heat
(uncountable) An undesirable amount of attention.
The heat from her family after her DUI arrest was unbearable.
Work
To exert an influence. Used with on or upon
Worked on her to join the group.
Heat
The police.
The heat! Scram!
Work
To arrive at a specified condition through gradual or repeated movement
The stitches worked loose.
Heat
One or more firearms.
Work
To proceed or progress slowly and laboriously
Worked through the underbrush.
Worked through my problems in therapy.
Heat
A fastball.
The catcher called for the heat, high and tight.
Work
To move in an agitated manner, as with emotion
Her mouth worked with fear.
Heat
In omegaverse fiction, a cyclical period in which omegas experience an intense, sometimes irresistible biological urge to mate.
Work
To behave in a specified way when handled or processed
Not all metals work easily.
Heat
(countable) A preliminary race, used to determine the participants in a final race
The runner had high hopes, but was out of contention after the first heat.
Work
To ferment.
Heat
A stage in a competition, not necessarily a sporting one; a round.
Work
To strain in heavy seas so that the joints give slightly and the fastenings become slack. Used of a boat or ship.
Heat
(countable) One cycle of bringing metal to maximum temperature and working it until it is too cool to work further.
I can make a scroll like that in a single heat.
Work
To sail against the wind.
Heat
(countable) A hot spell.
The children stayed indoors during this year's summer heat.
Work
To undergo small motions that result in friction and wear
The gears work against each other.
Heat
(uncountable) Heating system; a system that raises the temperature of a room or building.
I'm freezing; could you turn on the heat?
Work
To cause or effect; bring about
Working miracles.
Heat
(uncountable) The output of a heating system.
During the power outage we had no heat because the controls are electric.
Older folks like more heat than the young.
Work
To cause to operate or function; actuate, use, or manage
Worked the controls.
Can work a lathe.
Heat
(countable) A violent action unintermitted; a single effort.
Work
To shape or forge
"Each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor" (Edgar Allan Poe).
Heat
To get a negative reaction from the audience, especially as a heel (or bad character).
Work
To make or decorate by needlework
Work a sampler.
Heat
(transitive) To cause an increase in temperature of (an object or space); to cause to become hot often with "up".
I'll heat up the water.
Work
To solve (a problem) by calculation and reasoning.
Heat
(intransitive) To become hotter.
There's a pot of soup heating on the stove.
Work
To knead, stir, or otherwise manipulate in preparation
Work the dough before shaping it.
Heat
To excite or make hot by action or emotion; to make feverish.
Work
To bring to a specified condition by gradual or repeated effort or work
Finally worked the window open.
Worked the slaves to death.
Heat
To excite ardour in; to rouse to action; to excite to excess; to inflame, as the passions.
Work
To make, achieve, or pay for by work or effort
Worked her way to the top.
Worked his passage on the ship.
Heat
A force in nature which is recognized in various effects, but especially in the phenomena of fusion and evaporation, and which, as manifested in fire, the sun's rays, mechanical action, chemical combination, etc., becomes directly known to us through the sense of feeling. In its nature heat is a mode of motion, being in general a form of molecular disturbance or vibration. It was formerly supposed to be a subtile, imponderable fluid, to which was given the name caloric.
Work
(Informal) To arrange or contrive. Often used with it
Worked it so that her weekends are free.
Heat
The sensation caused by the force or influence of heat when excessive, or above that which is normal to the human body; the bodily feeling experienced on exposure to fire, the sun's rays, etc.; the reverse of cold.
Work
To make productive; cultivate
Work a farm.
Heat
High temperature, as distinguished from low temperature, or cold; as, the heat of summer and the cold of winter; heat of the skin or body in fever, etc.
Else how had the world . . . Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat!
Work
To cause to work
Works his laborers hard.
Heat
Indication of high temperature; appearance, condition, or color of a body, as indicating its temperature; redness; high color; flush; degree of temperature to which something is heated, as indicated by appearance, condition, or otherwise.
It has raised . . . heats in their faces.
The heats smiths take of their iron are a blood-red heat, a white-flame heat, and a sparkling or welding heat.
Work
To excite or provoke
Worked the mob into a frenzy.
Heat
A single complete operation of heating, as at a forge or in a furnace; as, to make a horseshoe in a certain number of heats.
Work
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.
Heat
A violent action unintermitted; a single effort; a single course in a race that consists of two or more courses; as, he won two heats out of three.
Many causes . . . for refreshment betwixt the heats.
[He] struck off at one heat the matchless tale of "Tam o' Shanter."
Work
To use or manipulate to one's own advantage; exploit
Learned how to work the system.
Worked his relatives for sympathy.
Heat
Utmost violence; rage; vehemence; as, the heat of battle or party.
Work
To carry on an operation or function in or through
The agent who works that area.
Working the phones for donations.
Heat
Agitation of mind; inflammation or excitement; exasperation.
Work
To ferment (liquor, for example).
Heat
Animation, as in discourse; ardor; fervency; as, in the heat of argument.
With all the strength and heat of eloquence.
Work
Employment.
Heat
Fermentation.
Work
Labour, occupation, job.
My work involves a lot of travel.
Heat
Strong psychological pressure, as in a police investigation; as, when they turned up the heat, he took it on the lam.
Work
The place where one is employed.
He hasn’t come home yet; he’s still at work.
Heat
To make hot; to communicate heat to, or cause to grow warm; as, to heat an oven or furnace, an iron, or the like.
Heat me these irons hot.
Work
(by extension) One's employer.
I want to go to the reunion concert, but I'm not sure if my work will give me the time off.
Heat
To excite or make hot by action or emotion; to make feverish.
Pray, walk softly; do not heat your blood.
Work
(dated) A factory; a works.
Heat
To excite ardor in; to rouse to action; to excite to excess; to inflame, as the passions.
A noble emulation heats your breast.
Work
Effort.
Heat
To grow warm or hot by the action of fire or friction, etc., or the communication of heat; as, the iron or the water heats slowly.
Work
Effort expended on a particular task.
Holding a brick over your head is hard work. It takes a lot of work to write a dictionary.
Heat
To grow warm or hot by fermentation, or the development of heat by chemical action; as, green hay heats in a mow, and manure in the dunghill.
Work
Sustained human effort to overcome obstacles and achieve a result.
We know what we must do. Let's go to work.
We don't have much time. Let's get to work piling up those sandbags.
Heat
Heated; as, the iron though heat red-hot.
Work
Something on which effort is expended.
There's lots of work waiting for me at the office.
Heat
A form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
Work
(physics) A measure of energy expended in moving an object; most commonly, force times distance. No work is done if the object does not move.
Work is done against friction to drag a bag along the ground.
Heat
The presence of heat
Work
A measure of energy that is usefully extracted from a process.
Heat
The sensation caused by heat energy
Work
(heading) Product; the result of effort.
Heat
Intense passion or emotion
Work
The result of a particular manner of production.
There's a lot of guesswork involved.
Heat
A preliminary race in which the winner advances to a more important race
Work
Something produced using the specified material or tool.
We've got some paperwork to do before we can get started. The piece was decorated with intricate filigree work.
Heat
Utility to warm a building;
The heating system wasn't working
They have radiant heating
Work
(countable) A literary, artistic, or intellectual production.
It is a work of art.
The poetic works of Alexander Pope
Heat
Make hot or hotter;
Heat the soup
Work
(countable) A fortification.
William the Conqueror fortified many castles, throwing up new ramparts, bastions and all manner of works.
Heat
Provide with heat;
Heat the house
Work
The staging of events to appear as real.
Heat
Arouse or excite feelings and passions;
The ostentatious way of living of the rich ignites the hatred of the poor
The refugees' fate stirred up compassion around the world
Wake old feelings of hatred
Work
(mining) Ore before it is dressed.
Heat
Gain heat or get hot;
The room heated up quickly
Work
The equipment needed to inject a drug (syringes, needles, swabs etc.)
Tell me you're using clean works at least.
Heat
Energy transfer between substances or systems due to a temperature difference.
An iron rod getting hot at one end transfers heat along its length.
Work
(intransitive) To do a specific task by employing physical or mental powers.
He’s working in a bar.
Heat
Measured in calories or joules, often observed as changes in temperature or state.
Boiling water involves the transfer of heat to change the water from liquid to gas.
Work
Followed by in (or at, etc.) Said of one's workplace (building), or one's department, or one's trade (sphere of business).
I work in a national park
She works in the human resources department
He mostly works in logging, but sometimes works in carpentry
Heat
Can be transferred by conduction, convection, or radiation.
Sunlight warming your face is heat transfer by radiation.
Work
Followed by as. Said of one's job title
I work as a cleaner.
Work
Followed by for. Said of a company or individual who employs.
She works for Microsoft
He works for the president
Work
Followed by with. General use, said of either fellow employees or instruments or clients.
I work closely with my Canadian counterparts
You work with computers
She works with the homeless people from the suburbs
Work
(intransitive) To effect by gradual degrees;
To work into the earth
Work
(transitive) To effect by gradual degrees.
He worked his way through the crowd
The dye worked its way through
Using some tweezers, she worked the bee sting out of her hand
Work
(transitive) To embroider with thread.
Work
(transitive) To set into action.
He worked the levers.
Work
(transitive) To cause to ferment.
Work
(intransitive) To ferment.
Work
(transitive) To exhaust, by working.
The mine was worked until the last scrap of ore had been extracted.
Work
(transitive) To shape, form, or improve a material.
He used pliers to work the wire into shape.
Work
(transitive) To operate in a certain place, area, or speciality.
She works the night clubs
The salesman works the Midwest
Work
(transitive) To operate in or through; as, to work the phones.
Work
(transitive) To provoke or excite; to influence.
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy.
Work
(transitive) To use or manipulate to one’s advantage.
She knows how to work the system.
Work
To cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.
I cannot work a miracle.
Work
(transitive) To cause to work.
He is working his servants hard.
Work
(intransitive) To function correctly; to act as intended; to achieve the goal designed for.
He pointed at the car and asked, "Does it work"?;
He looked at the bottle of pain pills, wondering if they would work;
My plan didn’t work
Work
To influence.
They worked on her to join the group.
Work
(intransitive) To move in an agitated manner.
His fingers worked with tension.
A ship works in a heavy sea.
Work
(intransitive) To behave in a certain way when handled
This dough does not work easily;
The soft metal works well
Work
To cause (someone) to feel (something); to do unto somebody (something, whether good or bad).
Work
To hurt; to ache.
Work
To pull off; to wear, perform, etc. successfully or to advantage.
I would never have thought those pieces would go together, but she is working it like nobody's business.
Work
Exertion of strength or faculties; physical or intellectual effort directed to an end; industrial activity; toil; employment; sometimes, specifically, physical labor.
Man hath his daily work of body or mindAppointed.
Work
The matter on which one is at work; that upon which one spends labor; material for working upon; subject of exertion; the thing occupying one; business; duty; as, to take up one's work; to drop one's work.
Come on, Nerissa; I have work in handThat you yet know not of.
In every work that he began . . . he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
Work
That which is produced as the result of labor; anything accomplished by exertion or toil; product; performance; fabric; manufacture; in a more general sense, act, deed, service, effect, result, achievement, feat.
To leave no rubs or blotches in the work.
The work some praise,And some the architect.
Fancy . . . Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams.
The composition or dissolution of mixed bodies . . . is the chief work of elements.
Work
Specifically: (a) That which is produced by mental labor; a composition; a book; as, a work, or the works, of Addison. (b) Flowers, figures, or the like, wrought with the needle; embroidery.
I am glad I have found this napkin; . . . I'll have the work ta'en out,And give 't Iago.
Work
Structures in civil, military, or naval engineering, as docks, bridges, embankments, trenches, fortifications, and the like; also, the structures and grounds of a manufacturing establishment; as, iron works; locomotive works; gas works.
Work
Manner of working; management; treatment; as, unskillful work spoiled the effect.
Work
The causing of motion against a resisting force. The amount of work is proportioned to, and is measured by, the product of the force into the amount of motion along the direction of the force. See Conservation of energy, under Conservation, Unit of work, under Unit, also Foot pound, Horse power, Poundal, and Erg.
Energy is the capacity of doing work . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another.
Work
Ore before it is dressed.
Work
Performance of moral duties; righteous conduct.
He shall reward every man according to his works.
Faith, if it hath not works, is dead.
Work
Break; twist.
Work
The causing of motion against a resisting force, measured by the product of the force into the component of the motion resolved along the direction of the force.
Energy is the capacity of doing work. . . . Work is the transference of energy from one system to another.
Work
Ore before it is dressed.
Work
To exert one's self for a purpose; to put forth effort for the attainment of an object; to labor; to be engaged in the performance of a task, a duty, or the like.
O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work,To match thy goodness?
Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you.
Whether we work or play, or sleep or wake,Our life doth pass.
Work
Hence, in a general sense, to operate; to act; to perform; as, a machine works well.
We bend to that the working of the heart.
Work
Hence, figuratively, to be effective; to have effect or influence; to conduce.
We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.
This so wrought upon the child, that afterwards he desired to be taught.
She marveled how she could ever have been wrought upon to marry him.
Work
To carry on business; to be engaged or employed customarily; to perform the part of a laborer; to labor; to toil.
They that work in fine flax . . . shall be confounded.
Work
To be in a state of severe exertion, or as if in such a state; to be tossed or agitated; to move heavily; to strain; to labor; as, a ship works in a heavy sea.
Confused with working sands and rolling waves.
Work
To make one's way slowly and with difficulty; to move or penetrate laboriously; to proceed with effort; - with a following preposition, as down, out, into, up, through, and the like; as, scheme works out by degrees; to work into the earth.
Till body up to spirit work, in boundsProportioned to each kind.
Work
To ferment, as a liquid.
The working of beer when the barm is put in.
Work
To act or operate on the stomach and bowels, as a cathartic.
Purges . . . work best, that is, cause the blood so to do, . . . in warm weather or in a warm room.
Work
To labor or operate upon; to give exertion and effort to; to prepare for use, or to utilize, by labor.
He could have told them of two or three gold mines, and a silver mine, and given the reason why they forbare to work them at that time.
Work
To produce or form by labor; to bring forth by exertion or toil; to accomplish; to originate; to effect; as, to work wood or iron into a form desired, or into a utensil; to work cotton or wool into cloth.
Each herb he knew, that works or good or ill.
Work
To produce by slow degrees, or as if laboriously; to bring gradually into any state by action or motion.
So the pure, limpid stream, when foul with stainsOf rushing torrents and descending rains,Works itself clear, and as it runs, refines,Till by degrees the floating mirror shines.
Work
To influence by acting upon; to prevail upon; to manage; to lead.
Work
To form with a needle and thread or yarn; especially, to embroider; as, to work muslin.
Work
To set in motion or action; to direct the action of; to keep at work; to govern; to manage; as, to work a machine.
Knowledge in building and working ships.
Now, Marcus, thy virtue's the proof;Put forth thy utmost strength, work every nerve.
The mariners all 'gan work the ropes,Where they were wont to do.
Work
To cause to ferment, as liquor.
Tears of joy for your returning spilt,Work out and expiate our former guilt.
The sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their heads,Works up more fire and color in their cheeks.
Work
Activity directed toward making or doing something;
She checked several points needing further work
Work
A product produced or accomplished through the effort or activity or agency of a person or thing;
It is not regarded as one of his more memorable works
The symphony was hailed as an ingenious work
He was indebted to the pioneering work of John Dewey
The work of an active imagination
Erosion is the work of wind or water over time
Work
The occupation for which you are paid;
He is looking for employment
A lot of people are out of work
Work
Applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading);
Mastering a second language requires a lot of work
No schools offer graduate study in interior design
Work
The total output of a writer or artist (or a substantial part of it);
He studied the entire Wagnerian oeuvre
Picasso's work can be divided into periods
Work
A place where work is done;
He arrived at work early today
Work
(physics) a manifestation of energy; the transfer of energy from one physical system to another expressed as the product of a force and the distance through which it moves a body in the direction of that force;
Work equals force times distance
Work
Exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity;
I will work hard to improve my grades
She worked hard for better living conditions for the poor
Work
Be employed;
Is your husband working again?
My wife never worked
Do you want to work after the age of 60?
She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money
She works as a waitress to put herself through college
Work
Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected;
The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
How does your idea work in practice?
This method doesn't work
The breaks of my new car act quickly
The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water
Work
Perform as expected when applied;
The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in
Does this old car still run well?
This old radio doesn't work anymore
Work
Shape, form, or improve a material;
Work stone into tools
Process iron
Work the metal
Work
Give a work-out to;
Some parents exercise their infants
My personal trainer works me hard
Work one's muscles
Work
Proceed along a path;
Work one's way through the crowd
Make one's way into the forest
Work
Operate in a certain place, area, or specialty;
She works the night clubs
The salesman works the Midwest
This artist works mostly in acrylics
Work
Proceed towards a goal or along a path or through an activity;
Work your way through every problem or task
She was working on her second martini when the guests arrived
Start from the bottom and work towards the top
Work
Move in an agitated manner;
His fingers worked with tension
Work
Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence;
I cannot work a miracle
Wreak havoc
Bring comments
Play a joke
The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
Work
Cause to work;
He is working his servants hard
Work
Prepare for crops;
Work the soil
Cultivate the land
Work
Behave in a certain way when handled;
This dough does not work easily
The soft metal works well
Work
Have and exert influence or effect;
The artist's work influenced the young painter
She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
Work
Operate in or through;
Work the phones
Work
Cause to operate or function;
This pilot works the controls
Can you work an electric drill?
Work
Provoke or excite;
The rock musician worked the crowd of young girls into a frenzy
Work
Gratify and charm, usually in order to influence;
The political candidate worked the crowds
Work
Make something, usually for a specific function;
She molded the riceballs carefully
Form cylinders from the dough
Shape a figure
Work the metal into a sword
Work
Move into or onto;
Work the raisins into the dough
The student worked a few jokes into his presentation
Work the body onto the flatbed truck
Work
Make uniform;
Knead dough
Work the clay until it is soft
Work
Use or manipulate to one's advantage;
He exploit the new taxation system
She knows how to work the system
He works his parents for sympathy
Work
Find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of;
Did you solve the problem?
Work out your problems with the boss
This unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
Did you get it?
Did you get my meaning?
He could not work the math problem
Work
Cause to undergo fermentation;
We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content
The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats
Work
Go sour or spoil;
The milk has soured
The wine worked
The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
Work
Arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion;
The stitches of the hem worked loose after she wore the skirt many times
Work
Can result in an increase in potential or kinetic energy.
Lifting a rock increases its potential energy.
Work
Does not occur without displacement.
Holding a heavy object stationary does not constitute work.
Common Curiosities
Can work be converted into heat?
Yes, work can be converted into heat, such as when friction converts mechanical energy into thermal energy.
What are the methods of heat transfer?
Heat can be transferred by conduction, convection, and radiation.
What is work in physics?
Work is the energy transfer that occurs when an object is moved by a force over a distance.
How are work and heat measured?
Both work and heat are measured in joules (J) in the International System of Units.
What is an example of work and heat occurring together?
In an internal combustion engine, burning fuel generates heat, which then does work by moving the pistons.
Is lifting an object considered doing work?
Yes, lifting an object is considered doing work as long as there is movement in the direction of the force.
How does an air conditioner use work and heat?
An air conditioner uses work (electric energy) to remove heat from the interior of a building and expel it to the outside.
What is heat in physics?
Heat is the energy transferred between substances or systems due to a difference in their temperatures.
What happens to a system when heat is added to it?
Adding heat to a system typically increases its internal energy, which can raise its temperature or change its state.
How does heat transfer differ from work?
Heat transfer occurs due to a temperature difference and does not require movement or force, unlike work.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
