works

Etymology

noun

1. plural of work in its countable senses

noun

1. A factory or factories, or similar collection(s) of buildings.
   The steel works almost fills the valley.

noun

1. A mechanism or machinery; the means by which something happens.
   Aged and degraded oil and grease can really gum up the works.
2. (with "the") Everything or everything that is available or possible; especially, all available toppings on food.
   I'll have a Behemoth Burger with the works.
   My my they wanted the works, can you this and that / I never got a letter back 1974, Brian Eno (lyrics and music), “Dead Finks Don't Talk”, in Here Come the Warm Jets
   You like this? Limousine, champagne, the works. I'd get you on MTV, a national tour. Sponsorship. You name it. 1985, Ralph Farquhar, Krush Groove, spoken by Terri Beiker (Charles Stettler)
3. (with "the") Drastic treatment; abuse; the axe (dismissal).
   Why did Constantinople get the works? 1953, “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”, Jimmy Kennedy (lyrics)
4. (slang) A drug addict's equipment: syringe, needle, etc.

verb

1. third-person singular simple present indicative of work