working

Etymology 1

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.

noun

1. (usually in the plural) Operation; action.
2. Method of operation.
3. (arithmetic) The incidental or subsidiary calculations performed in solving an overall problem.
   Be sure to check your working.
4. Fermentation.
5. (of bodies of water) Becoming full of a vegetable substance.
6. A place where work is carried on.
   the abandoned mine workings
7. (countable) 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. 1960 December, Cecil J. Allen, “Operating a mountain main line: the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon: Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 743

Etymology 2

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”).

verb

1. present participle and gerund of work
   Leave him alone; he’s working.

adj

1. That is or are functioning.
   a working ventilator
2. That suffices but requires additional work.
   a working copy of the script
3. In paid employment.
   working mothers
4. Of or relating to employment.
   the working week
5. Enough to allow one to use something.
   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. (obsolete) Efficacious.