working adj[attrib 作定語] 1 (a) engaged in work, esp manual labour; employed 做工作的; （尤指）從事體力勞動的; 受雇的 the working man, ie manual workers in general 工人 The meeting must be held at a time convenient for working mothers. 會議召開的時間必須便於有孩子的女工參加. The working population of the country (ie The proportion of the population that works or is available for work) is growing smaller. 這個國家的勞力正在減少. (b) of, for or suitable for work 工作上的; 為工作的; 適於工作的 My working hours are (from) 9 to 5. 我的工作時間是（從）9點到5點. She was still dressed in her working clothes. 她還穿著工作服呢. The union has negotiated a 35-hour working week. 工會經談判確定為每星期工作35小時. She had spent all her working life in the factory. 她一生的工作時間都是在這座工廠里度過的. Working conditions in the industry have improved greatly. 這一行業的工作環境已有很大改善. a working breakfast/lunch, ie one during which business is discussed 工作早餐[午餐]（邊就餐邊研工作的） He has a good working relationship with his boss. 他和老板工作關系很好. 2 functioning or able to function 起作用的; 能運轉的 a working model of a steam engine 蒸汽機的工作模型 The government has a working majority, ie one that is sufficient to allow it to govern. 這個政府握有穩操勝券的多數票. 3 that is good enough as a basis for work, argument, etc and may be improved later; provisional 有起碼的工作、 辯論等的基礎的; 臨時的 a working definition, hypothesis, theory暫定的定義、 假設、 理論 She has a working knowledge of French. 她的法語尚可應付工作. 4 (idm 習語) in (full) `working order (esp of a machine) able to function properly; running smoothly （尤指機器）能正常操作的, 靈活運轉的. working, n 1 [C] (part of a) mine or quarry that is being or has been worked (work2 5) （正在開采的或已開采過的）礦坑, 采石場（的一部分） The boys went exploring in some disused workings, eg the shafts of an old tin mine. 那些男孩子到一些廢棄的礦坑去探險（如舊錫礦的豎坑中）. 2 workings [pl] ~s (of sth) (process involved in) the way a machine, an organization, a part of the body, etc operates （機器、 組織、 身體某部等的）工作方式或過程 the workings of the human mind 人的頭腦的活動方式 It was impossible to understand the workings of such a huge bureaucracy. 要想了解這樣龐大的官僚體系的運作情況是不可能的.