outwork

English

Etymology

From out- +‎ work.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation)
    • (verb): enPR: out-wûkʹ, IPA(key): /aʊtˈwɔːk/
    • Audio (Southern England):(file)
    • (noun): enPR: outʹwûk, IPA(key): /ˈaʊtwɔːk/
    • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (General American)
    • (verb): enPR: out-wûrkʹ, IPA(key): /aʊtˈwɔːɹk/
    • (noun): enPR: outʹwûrk, IPA(key): /ˈaʊtwɔːɹk/

Verb

outwork (third-person singular simple present outworks, present participle outworking, simple past and past participle outworked)

  1. (transitive) To work more, faster, or harder than (someone else).
    Hypernym: outdo
    A few may be able to outsmart him, but no one can outwork him.
    • 2009, Bill Boggs, Got What It Takes?:
      And I am one of those people who is indefatigable, in the true sense that I beg someone to find someone who can outwork me.
  2. (rare, obsolete) To work out to a finish; to complete.

Noun

outwork (countable and uncountable, plural outworks)

  1. (architecture, countable) A minor, subsidiary fortification built beyond the main limits of fortification.
    Coordinate term: fieldwork
    Beyond the castle, scattered outworks offered some protection for the farther-flung peasants.
  2. Agricultural work done outdoors in the fields.
    Synonym: fieldwork

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