labor
la·bor (lā′bər)
noun
- physical or mental exertion; work; toil
- a specific task; piece of work
- all wage-earning workers as a group
- all manual workers whose work is characterized largely by physical exertion
- labor unions collectively
- the work accomplished by or the role in production of all workers, esp. workers for wages
- Labor Party
- Med. the process or period of childbirth; parturition; esp., the muscular contractions of giving birth
Etymology: OFr < L, labor, orig., hardship, pain, prob. < base of labi, to slip, totter: see lap
intransitive verb
- to work; toil
- to work hard; exert oneself to get or do something; strive
- to move slowly and with difficulty the car labored up the hill
- to pitch and roll heavily the ship labored in the rough sea
- to be afflicted or burdened with a liability or limitation (with under) to labor under a delusion
- to undergo, and suffer the pains of, childbirth
Etymology: ME laboren < OFr laborer < L laborare < the n.
transitive verb
Etymology: earlier elabour < Fr élaborer: see elaborate
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Posted by emilyLTK 117 days ago.