Labour

Quick meaning: Labour is a noun meaning An effort expended on a particular task; toil, work.

Meaning

An effort expended on a particular task; toil, work.

More Meanings

1. That which requires hard work for its accomplishment; that which demands effort.
2. (uncountable) Workers in general; the working class, the workforce; sometimes specifically the labour movement, organised labour.
3. (uncountable) A political party or force aiming or claiming to represent the interests of labour.
4. (medicine, obstetrics) The act or process of a mother giving birth.
5. The time period during which a mother gives birth.
6. (nautical) The pitching or tossing of a vessel which results in the straining of timbers and rigging.
7. (historical) A traditional unit of area in Mexico and Texas, equivalent to 177.1 acres or 71.67 ha.

Example Sentences

Near-synonyms: childbirth, parturition

Being a labour of so great difficulty, the exact performance thereof we may rather wish than look for.

"Crab" 2-6-0 No 42802 labours up to Beattock Summit with a northbound freight from Carlisle in August 1960.

Paul Doherty came to the rescue when his wife Georgina went into labour early just minutes from their local hospital.

Word Forms

• labours
• labor
• labouring
• laboured

Synonyms for labour

Depending on context, synonyms include swink, toil, work, quarter-section, childbirth, parturition.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include moil, toil, travail, push, drive, tug.

Related Dictionary Tools