labour

[ ley-ber ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

1. labor.

labour

/ ˈleɪbə /

noun

1. productive work, esp physical toil done for wages
2. 1. the people, class, or workers involved in this, esp in contrast to management, capital, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      a labour dispute

      labour relations

3. 1. difficult or arduous work or effort
   2. ( in combination )

      labour-saving

4. a particular job or task, esp of a difficult nature
5. 1. the process or effort of childbirth or the time during which this takes place
   2. ( as modifier )

      labour pains

6. labour of love
   something done for pleasure rather than gain

verb

1. intr to perform labour; work
2. intr; foll by for, etc to strive or work hard (for something)
3. intrusually foll byunder to be burdened (by) or be at a disadvantage (because of)

   to labour under a misapprehension

4. intr to make one's way with difficulty
5. tr to deal with or treat too persistently

   to labour a point

6. intr (of a woman) to be in labour
7. intr (of a ship) to pitch and toss

Spelling Note

See -or ¹.

Derived Forms

• ˈlabouringly, adverb

Other Words From

• anti·labour adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of labour¹

C13: via Old French from Latin labor; perhaps related to lābī to fall

Example Sentences

The threat of labour action also looms, as well as potential upheaval if Trump delivers on his campaign promise to reverse the Biden administration's new rules on vehicle emissions.

From BBC

Samsung India said the firm "categorically denies all the allegations and that it maintains absolute compliance with all the existing labour laws".

From BBC

Other businesses highlight what they see as a heavy bureaucratic burden at both national and European levels, inconsistent government decision-making from Berlin, plus higher labour costs and staff shortages.

From BBC

It is the effect of the changes on top of five difficult years for the restaurant business, following the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and labour costs which are already rising.

From BBC

Some Republican states - whose economies rely, in part, on immigrant labour - may also object.

From BBC