task
Definitions
A piece of work to be done, especially one that is assigned or has to be finished
任务，工作，差事
To give someone a task; to assign a duty (often 'be tasked with')
派给（某人任务）；委以（常用 be tasked with）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedtask and tax are doublets — two English words from the same Latin taxāre ('assess, charge'). task came through Old French tasque, where an 'assessed' amount of work became 'the work you owe.' So a task is literally your assessed portion of labor, the way a tax is your assessed portion of money.
Root tax still carries 13 more wordsWhy It Means This
Most learners never guess task and tax are siblings. Both grow from taxāre's idea of 'assessing what is owed': tax assesses money owed to the state, task assesses work owed to a job. The connection is purely historical now, but it explains why a heavy workload can feel like a 'tax' on your time.
Common Collocations
- 1.difficult task困难的任务
- 2.daunting task艰巨的任务
- 3.complete a task完成任务
- 4.be tasked with被委以……的任务
Example Sentences
- 1.
Cleaning the whole house in a day is a daunting task.
- 2.
She was tasked with reviewing every application by Friday.
- 3.
Let's break this big project into smaller, manageable tasks.
Synonym Comparison
- task — an assigned, often specific piece of work: a daily task
- job — broadest: paid employment or any piece of work
- chore — a routine, often tedious household task: weekend chores
- assignment — a task formally given, often in school or work
- duty — a task you are morally or officially obliged to do