labor

Plurallabors

Formslabors, laboring, labored

1. 1
   effortnouncountable or uncountable

   Hard work, or a job that takes a lot of effort.

   Building the fence took two full days of labor.

   The bill for fixing the car was mostly for labor, not parts.

   UsageSay the cost of labor, and a labor of love.

   Similarwork, toil, effort, exertion

   Oppositerest, leisure

   Note
2. 2
   noununcountable

   Working people as a group, and sometimes the unions that speak for them.

   Both labor and the bosses wanted the strike to end soon.

   Union leaders said labor would not accept the pay cut.

   UsageSay labor and management, with no the.

   Similarworkers, workforce, employees

   Oppositemanagement

   Note
3. 3
   childbirthnouncountable or uncountable

   The process of a mother giving birth, or the time it takes.

   The doctor said her labor was going well.

   Doctors started her labor with medicine because the baby was late.

   UsageSay a woman goes into labor or is in labor.

   Similarchildbirth, delivery, birth

   Note
4. 4
   work hardverbintransitive

   To work, usually very hard and with a lot of effort.

   Volunteers labor all weekend to get the shelter ready.

   He labored on his uncle's farm when he was young.

   UsageSay labor over something or labor in the fields.

   Similarwork, toil, slave, sweat, strive

   Oppositerest, relax, idle

5. 5
   political partynoununcountable

   A political party or group that says it works for the good of working people.

   Labor won more seats than ever before in that election.

   Labor promised to build more schools and hospitals if it took power.

   UsageWrite Labor with a capital and no the.

   Note
6. 6
   political partyproper noun · LaborAustralia

   The Australian Labor Party, a big political party in Australia.

   My uncle in Melbourne has voted for Labor at every election.

   Labor is one of the two main parties in Australian politics.

   UsageSay Labor, with no the.

   Note
7. 7
   verbintransitive

   To have a hard time or move slowly with great effort, like a ship in a storm.

   The old truck labored up the steep hill with its heavy load.

   The runners started to labor in the heat near the end of the race.

   UsageSay labor under a problem or labor up a hill.

   Similarstruggle, toil, strain, plod

   Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 12