work‧er S2 W1 / wɜkə $ wɜrkər / 名词 [可数名词]
1 someone who does a job, especially a particular type of job :
workers in the tourist industry
reports from local aid workers → guest worker , social worker
2 [通常复数形式] someone who works in an organization and who is not a manager :
conflicts between workers and management
attacks on workers’ rights
3 good/hard/quick etc worker someone who works very well or quickly
4 the workers the members of the working class :
the workers’ revolution
COLLOCATIONS
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + worker
a skilled worker (= one who has special skills ) There is a shortage of skilled workers.
an unskilled worker Some ex-miners now had jobs as unskilled workers in factories.
a part-time worker A high percentage of the female staff were part-time workers.
a full-time worker The bureau has only two full-time workers.
a temporary/casual worker (= working somewhere for a limited period of time ) Employees were fired and replaced with temporary workers.
a manual/blue-collar worker (= someone who does physical work ) Manual workers often live close to their workplace.
a white-collar worker (= someone who works in an office, a bank etc ) In the past, white-collar workers tended to work for one company for a long time, rather than changing jobs.
a low-paid worker As part-time, low-paid workers, many women earned very little.
a factory/farm/office worker Factory workers threatened strikes.
a research/rescue/health etc worker Rescue workers searched the rubble all night looking for survivors.
a construction worker (= someone who builds buildings, bridges etc )
THESAURUS
worker someone who does a particular type of job, or someone who works for an organization but is not a manager : a post-office worker | The workers are threatening to go on strike. | The report shows that male manual workers earn twice as much as female workers.
employee someone who has a job, especially a permanent job, with a particular company or organization : Employees of the airline get generous reductions on the cost of flights.
member of staff/staff member one of the people who work for a company, organization, school etc - used especially in official contexts : Training opportunities are available to all members of staff. | Several staff members complained about his increasing strange behaviour.
colleague ( also coworker especially American English ) someone you work with – use this especially about people who do professional jobs in offices, schools etc : I’d like you to meet a colleague of mine, Jean-Michel Blanc. | What should you do if a co-worker is injured?
workforce all the people that work in a country, industry, or large organization : Women make up 41% of the workforce.
staff all the people who work in a company, organization, school etc : The staff were clearly worried about rumours of job losses. | sales staff