How to pronounce spadework
American English pronunciation
SPAYD-wurk
- IPA
- /ˈspeɪdˌwɝk/
- Syllables
- SPAYD · wurk (2 syllables, stress on the 1st)
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What spadework means
Hard, dull groundwork done before a project moves on
In a sentence: Before the science fair, Maya did the spadework of reading books and taking careful notes.
Where it comes from: It joins spade, a digging tool, and work. It first meant digging with a spade, and later any hard work that gets things ready.
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