labor

[ ley-ber ]

noun

1. productive activity, especially for the sake of economic gain.

   Antonyms: rest, leisure, idleness

2. the body of persons engaged in such activity, especially those working for wages.

   Synonyms: working class

3. this body of persons considered as a class ( management and capital ).
4. physical or mental work, especially of a hard or fatiguing kind; toil.

   Synonyms: exertion

   Antonyms: rest, leisure, idleness

5. a job or task done or to be done.
6. the physical effort and periodic uterine contractions of childbirth.

   Synonyms: delivery, parturition

7. the interval from the onset of these contractions to childbirth.
8. Labor. Also called Labor Department. Informal. the Department of Labor.

verb (used without object)

1. to perform labor; exert one's powers of body or mind; work; toil.

   Synonyms: drudge

   Antonyms: rest

2. to strive, as toward a goal; work hard (often followed by for ):

   to labor for peace.

3. to act, behave, or function at a disadvantage (usually followed by under ):

   to labor under a misapprehension.

4. to be in the actual process of giving birth.
5. to roll or pitch heavily, as a ship.

verb (used with object)

1. to develop or dwell on in excessive detail:

   Don't labor the point.

   Synonyms: overdo, belabor

2. to burden or tire:

   to labor the reader with unnecessary detail.

3. British Dialect. to work or till (soil or the like).

adjective

1. of or relating to workers, their associations, or working conditions:

   labor reforms.

labor

/ ˈleɪbə /

verb

1. the US spelling of labour

labor

/ lā′bər /

1. 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.

labor

1. The physical processes at the end of a normal pregnancy, including opening of the cervix and contractions of the uterus , that lead to the birth of the baby.

Other Words From

• la·bor·ing·ly adverb
• la·bor·less adjective
• an·ti·la·bor adjective
• non·la·bor adjective
• out·la·bor 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of labor¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English labour, from Old French, from Latin labōr- (stem of labor ) “work”

Example Sentences

Consumer prices rose 2.6% over the 12 months to October, the Labor Department said.

From BBC

Members of the bargaining unit voted 100% in favor of unionization in an official election overseen by the National Labor Relations board, the union announced Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 exempted teachers from overtime pay and still stands as law today.

From Los Angeles Times

Martinez, the former council president, and Ron Herrera, who headed the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, both resigned from their positions.

From Los Angeles Times

In a sign of how seriously the White House took the strike at one of the country's most important companies, acting US Labor Secretary Julie Su flew to Seattle last month to help with negotiations.

From BBC

Related Words

• activity
• employment
• energy
• industry
• job