Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

3 ADJ [ADJ n] A working day or week is the amount of time during a normal day or week which you spend doing your job. [mainly BRIT ] □  For doctors, the working day often has no end. □  Automation would bring a shorter, more flexible working week. in AM, usually use workday , work week 4 ADJ [ADJ n] A working day is a day on which people go to work. [mainly BRIT ] □  Tuesday is the first working day after the three day holiday weekend. in AM, usually use workday 5 ADJ [ADJ n] Your working life is the period of your life in which you have a job or are of a suitable age to have a job. □  He started his working life as a truck driver.

6 ADJ [ADJ n] The working population of an area consists of all the people in that area who have a job or who are of a suitable age to have a job. □  Almost 13 per cent of the working population is already unemployed.

7 ADJ [ADJ n] Working conditions or practices are ones which you have in your job. □  The strikers are demanding higher pay and better working conditions.

8 ADJ [ADJ n] Working clothes are designed for doing work in, and are intended to be practical rather than attractive.

9 ADJ [ADJ n] A working relationship is the relationship you have with someone when you work with them. □  The vice-president seems to have a good working relationship with the president.

10 ADJ [ADJ n] A working farm or business exists to do normal work and make a profit, and not only for tourists or as someone's hobby.

11 ADJ [ADJ n] The working parts of a machine are the parts which move and operate the machine, in contrast to the outer case or container in which they are enclosed.

12 ADJ [ADJ n] A working model is one that has parts that move.

13 ADJ [ADJ n] A working knowledge or majority is not very great, but is enough to be useful. □  This book was designed in order to provide a working knowledge of finance and accounts.

14 ADJ [ADJ n] A working title or definition is one which you use when starting to make or do something, but which you are likely to change or improve. □  His working title for the script was 'Trust the People'.

15 N‑PLURAL The workings of a piece of equipment, an organization, or a system are the ways in which it operates and the processes which are involved in it. □ [+ of ] Neural networks are computer systems which mimic the workings of the brain.

16in working order → see order ➌

wo rk|ing ca pi|tal N‑UNCOUNT Working capital is money which is available for use immediately, rather than money which is invested in land or equipment. [BUSINESS ]

wo rk|ing cla ss (working classes ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] The working class or the working classes are the group of people in a society who do not own much property, who have low social status, and who do jobs which involve using physical skills rather than intellectual skills. □  …increased levels of home ownership among the working classes. ● ADJ [usu ADJ n] Working class is also an adjective. □  …a self-educated man from a working class background. □  The group is mainly black, mainly working-class.

wo rk|ing group (working groups ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] A working group is the same as a working party . □ [+ on ] There will be a working group on international issues.

wo rk|ing me n's clu b (working men's clubs ) N‑COUNT A working men's club is a place where working people, especially men, can go to relax, drink alcoholic drinks, and sometimes watch live entertainment.