task

[ task, tahsk ]

noun

1. a definite piece of work assigned to, falling to, or expected of a person; duty.

   Synonyms: assignment, job

2. any piece of work.

   Synonyms: assignment, job

3. a matter of considerable labor or difficulty.
4. Obsolete. a tax or impost.

verb (used with object)

1. to subject to severe or excessive labor or exertion; put a strain upon (powers, resources, etc.).
2. to impose a task on.
3. Obsolete. to tax.

adjective

1. of or relating to a task or tasks:

   A task chart will help organize the department's work.

task

/ tɑːsk /

noun

1. a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or chore
2. an unpleasant or difficult job or duty
3. any piece of work
4. take to task
   to criticize or reprove

verb

1. to assign a task to
2. to subject to severe strain; tax

Derived Forms

• ˈtasker, noun
• ˈtaskless, adjective

Other Words From

• taskless adjective
• subtask noun
• un·tasked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of task¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun, from Medieval Latin tasca, variant of taxa tax ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of task¹

C13: from Old French tasche, from Medieval Latin tasca, from taxa tax, from Latin taxāre to tax

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take to task, to call to account; blame; censure:

   The teacher took them to task for not doing their homework.

More idioms and phrases containing task

see take to task .

Synonym Study

Task, chore, job, assignment refer to a definite and specific instance or act of work. Task and chore and, to a lesser extent, job often imply work that is tiresome, arduous, or otherwise unpleasant. Task usually refers to a clearly defined piece of work, sometimes of short or limited duration, assigned to or expected of a person: the task of pacifying angry customers; a difficult, time-consuming task. A chore is a minor task, usually one of several performed as part of a routine, as in farming, and often more tedious than difficult: the daily chore of taking out the garbage; early morning chores of feeding the livestock. Job is the most general of these terms, referring to almost any work or responsibility, including a person's means of earning a living: the job of washing the windows; a well-paying job in advertising. Assignment refers to a specific task allocated to a person by someone in a position of authority: a homework assignment; a reporter's assignment to cover international news.

Example Sentences

Forty years after they began the task – and nearly four hundred years after receiving their first commission – sages in Paris have finally produced a new edition of the definitive French dictionary.

From BBC

Their task at the start was to “give certain rules to our language, to render it pure and eloquent” – to which end they set about writing their first dictionary.

From BBC

Providing the help that homeless people need is a difficult, long and expensive task, and residents clearly still believe in that mission.

From Los Angeles Times

Their task was difficult and dangerous.

From Los Angeles Times

“Analysts predict he may struggle to get two-thirds and may have to rely on coalitions. This would make his task much more difficult,” says Raisa Wickrematunge.

From BBC