task

task is part of the Academic Word List. It is important for students in college and university.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /tæsk/ SAMPA: /t{sk/
• (US) IPA: /tɑːsk/ SAMPA: tA:sk/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

Noun

Singular task

Plural tasks

1. A task is a specific piece of work, often unpleasant.

   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.

Synonyms

• job

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.

See also

• multi-task