Merriam-Webster Dictionary cites homework as

1 : piecework done at home for pay
2 : an assignment given to a student to be completed outside the regular class period
3 : preparatory reading or research (as for a discussion or a debate)

But us student would rather classify it as busy work given to students to complete outside of school; hence the name homework, work to be done at home. The unnecessary and often redundant work many times stirs students dislike towards teachers. Homework is usually given to students to help them retain the material they learned that day in class, but because of mismanaged time, the work usually doesn't benefit the pupils as the teachers expected it to; thus students associate an unpleasant task with homework.