labor
productive activity, especially for the sake of economic gain.
the body of persons engaged in such activity, especially those working for wages.
this body of persons considered as a class (distinguished from management and capital).
physical or mental work, especially of a hard or fatiguing kind; toil.
a job or task done or to be done.
the physical effort and periodic uterine contractions of childbirth.
the interval from the onset of these contractions to childbirth.
(initial capital letter)Also called Labor Department .Informal. the Department of Labor.
to strive, as toward a goal; work hard (often followed by for): to labor for peace.
to act, behave, or function at a disadvantage (usually followed by under): to labor under a misapprehension.
to be in the actual process of giving birth.
to roll or pitch heavily, as a ship.
to develop or dwell on in excessive detail: Don't labor the point.
to burden or tire: to labor the reader with unnecessary detail.
British Dialect. to work or till (soil or the like).
of or relating to workers, their associations, or working conditions: labor reforms.
Origin of labor
1- Also especially British, la·bour .
word story For labor
The Latin etymology for labor is obscure: the noun may be related to the verb lābī (which has a long ā ) “to move smoothly, slide” (commonly with implication of downward movement). Lābī in its turn may be related to labāre (with a short a in the root syllable) “to be unsteady on one’s feet, falter, totter.” These derivatives of lāb- and lab- may be related to the Latin nouns labium (the source of English labial ) and labrum, both meaning “lip” and, outside Latin, to the Greek noun lobós “lobe (of the ear, liver, or lung), pod (of a vegetable), slip (of a plant)” (and source of English lobe ).
Other words for labor
2 | working people, working class |
4 | exertion |
6 | parturition, delivery |
9 | drudge |
14 | belabor, overdo |
Opposites for labor
Other words from labor
- la·bor·ing·ly, adverb
- la·bor·less, adjective
- an·ti·la·bor, adjective
- non·la·bor, adjective
- outlabor, verb (used with object)
- o·ver·la·bor, verb (used with object)
- pre·la·bor, noun, verb (used without object)
- pro·la·bor, adjective
- un·la·bor·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use labor in a sentence
He could say to himself that it was only an impression; that he was a fool to labor under that sense of insecurity.
The Hidden Places | Bertrand W. SinclairEverybody believes me dead, but I cannot let my poor old father labor under this impression.
File No. 113 | Emile Gaboriau“And I know you labor under a mistake,” said Fizzle, elevating his chin, and folding his arms pugnaciously over his striped vest.
Ruth Hall | Fanny FernThat is the best the workingman can hope for as a result of his own labor under the very best conditions.
The Common Sense of Socialism | John SpargoIn our last communication The Brain seemed to labor under the impression that I was unconditionally at its beck and call.
The Brain | Alexander Blade
British Dictionary definitions for labor
/ (ˈleɪbə) /
the US spelling of labour
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for labor
[ lā′bər ]
The process by which the birth of a mammal occurs, beginning with contractions of the uterus and ending with the expulsion of the fetus and the placenta.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for labor
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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