labour

Plurallabours (some meanings)

Formslabours, labouring, laboured

1. 1
   toilnoununcountable

   The work and effort you put into doing a job.

   Building the wall by hand took weeks of labour.

   She sat down to rest after her labours in the garden.

   UsageSay hours of labour, not a labour. Your labours means all your hard work.

   Similarwork, effort, toil, exertion

   Oppositerest, leisure, idleness

   Note
2. 2
   noununcountable

   Workers as a group, or the people who work for wages.

   There is not enough skilled labour in the building trade.

   The bosses and labour could not agree on pay.

   UsageSay cheap labour or skilled labour, with no a.

   Similarworkers, workforce

   Oppositemanagement, capital

3. 3
   UK partyproper noun · Labourabbreviation

   Short for the Labour Party. People use this short name in the news and in everyday talk.

   My dad always votes Labour.

   Labour has chosen a new leader.

   UsageWrite it with a capital L: my dad votes Labour.

4. 4
   childbirthnouncountable or uncountable

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

   My mum was in labour all night.

   The midwife stayed with her through the whole labour.

   UsageSay she is in labour or she went into labour.

   Similarchildbirth, delivery

   Note
5. 5
   noununcountable

   A political party or group that says it speaks for working people.

   In that country, labour and the conservatives take turns running the government.

   In many elections the main fight was between labour and the parties of big business.

   UsageSmall l for the movement in general, capital L for one party: Labour.

6. 6
   verbintransitive

   To work hard, often using your body.

   Men labour all day to build the new road.

   She laboured in the kitchen to get the meal ready in time.

   UsageA stronger word than work. Say labour on a job or labour in the fields.

   Similargrind, toil

   Oppositerest, idle, relax, laze

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   A job or task that needs a lot of hard work.

   After a long day in the garden, Dad rested from his labours.

   The book was a labour of love for her.

   UsageA labour of love is hard work you do for pleasure or because you care, rather than for money.

   Similartask, undertaking, job

Showing meanings only. Show all 13