Split taps work (4)
I believe the answer is:
chop
'split' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'taps work' is the wordplay.
'taps' becomes 'ch' (cold and hot taps).
'work' becomes 'op' (abbreviation for opus).
'ch'+'op'='CHOP'
(Other definitions for chop that I've seen before include "Cut of meat - the sack" , "Small cut of meat" , "Chinese seal" , "Karate blow" , "Cut into small pieces" .)