/ Dictionary / Index S spadework: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: spade•work Pronunciation: (spād'wûrk"), [key] — n. preliminary or initial work, such as the gathering of data, on which further activity is to be based. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: spadework (Thesaurus) spadeful spadiceous Related Content Daily Word Quiz: paradox Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language