working
n. C / Un. the way a machine, a system, or an organization functions. It describes how the different parts move or act together to get a job done.
n. the internal mechanism or manner of operation of a system, machine, or organization. Often used in the plural to describe complex internal processes.
I do not understand the internal working of this clock.
The new documentary provides a rare look into the inner working of the national government during a crisis.
To improve the software, the engineers had to map out the intricate working of the legacy code, identifying every dependency that might cause a system failure.
From Middle English werking, werkynge, warkynge, worchinge, from Old English wyrċing (“working”), verbal noun of wyrċan (“to work”), equivalent to work + -ing. Cognate with Scots wirking, warking, Dutch werking, German Wirkung.
From Middle English workyng, wirkynge, worchinge, werchinge, workinde, wirkand, worchende, wurchende, from Old English wyrċende, from Proto-Germanic wurkijandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic wurkijaną (“to work”), equivalent to work + -ing. Compare Scots wirkand, werkand, warkand (“working”), Dutch werkend (“working, acting”), German wirkend (“acting, working”).
Frequently used in the plural form 'workings' when referring to complex systems or organizations.