works

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A heroin or other drug addict's equipment: syringes, needles, etc.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

While in San Francisco, where the AIDS crisis was particularly devastating, they saw numerous public awareness signs reading “Bleach Your Works” posted around the city, urging IV drug users to clean their needles with bleach to help staunch the spread of the disease.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “works” mean?

A heroin or other drug addict's equipment: syringes, needles, etc.

Is “works” formal or informal?

works is generally slang.