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task

Pronunciation: /tɑːsk/

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Definition of task

noun

  • a piece of work to be done or undertaken:a new manager was given the task of developing the club’s talent

verb

[with object]
  • assign a task to:NATO troops are tasked with separating the warring parties
  • make great demands on (someone’s resources or abilities):it tasked his diplomatic skill to effect his departure in safety

Phrases

take someone to task

reprimand or criticize someone severely for a fault or mistake: he took some military experts to task for their optimistic predictions

Origin:

Middle English: from an Old Northern French variant of Old French tasche, from medieval Latin tasca, alteration of taxa, from Latin taxare 'censure, charge' (see tax). An early sense of the verb was 'impose a tax on'

task in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of task in the US English dictionary

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