task

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /tæsk/ SAMPA: /t{sk/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /tɑːsk/ SAMPA: tA:sk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular task

Plural tasks

1. A task is a specific piece of work, often unpleasant.
   • Synonym: job

   Come here, young man. I have a task for you to do.

   Telecommunications systems for hotels now perform many more tasks than just allowing people to make telephone calls.

   When I was young, I had the task of milking the cows.

2. If you take someone to task, you criticise them strongly.

   Father took her to task for taking the car without asking.

Verb

Plain form task

Third-person singular tasks

Past tense tasked

Past participle tasked

Present participle tasking

1. If you task someone with doing something, you give them that job.

Related words

• multi-task