tas

n. [ F. ] A heap. [ Obs. ] “The tas of bodies slain.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Sp. tasconio. ] A kind of clay for making melting pots. Percy Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. ta`sis stretching, extension (from tei`nein to stretch) + -meter. ] (Physics) An instrument for detecting or measuring minute extensions or movements of solid bodies. It consists essentially of a small rod, disk, or button of carbon, forming part of an electrical circuit, the resistance of which, being varied by the changes of pressure produced by the movements of the object to be measured, causes variations in the strength of the current, which variations are indicated by a sensitive galvanometer. It is also used for measuring minute changes of temperature. T. A. Edison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. taske, OF. tasque, F. tâche, for tasche, LL. tasca, taxa, fr. L. taxare to rate, appraise, estimate. See Tax, n. & v. ] 1. Labor or study imposed by another, often in a definite quantity or amount. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ma task of servile toil. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Business; employment; undertaking; labor. [ 1913 Webster ]

His mental powers were equal to greater tasks. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

To take to task. See under Take. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Work; labor; employment; business; toil; drudgery; study; lesson; stint. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tasked p. pr. & vb. n. Tasking. ] 1. To impose a task upon; to assign a definite amount of business, labor, or duty to. [ 1913 Webster ]

There task thy maids, and exercise the loom. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To oppress with severe or excessive burdens; to tax. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To charge; to tax, as with a fault. [ 1913 Webster ]

Too impudent to task me with those errors. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who imposes a task. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who performs a task, as a day-laborer. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A laborer who receives his wages in kind. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who imposes a task, or burdens another with labor; one whose duty is to assign tasks; an overseer. Ex. i. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

All is, if I have grace to use it so,
As ever in my great Taskmaster's eye. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Polit. Econ.) A wage paid by the day, or some fixed period, on condition that a minimum task be performed. When the workman is paid in proportion for excess over the minimum, the wage is one for piece-work. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]