Showing results for "labour"

• a variation of labor.

labour

American  

[ley-ber] / ˈleɪ bər /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. labor.

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labour British  

/ 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. something done for pleasure rather than gain

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verb

1. (intr) to perform labour; work

2. (intr; foll by for, etc) to strive or work hard (for something)

3. 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

See -or ¹.

Other Word Forms

• antilabour
  adjective
• labouringly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of labour

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

Example Sentences

Ann Keen, a former Labour health minister, said her newborn son was abruptly taken away after she gave birth in Wales in 1966 when she was 17.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

But he admitted Labour had not given enough thought to how the world had changed since the party was last in power in the 1990s.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

Shav Taj, Labour MS for Caerdydd Fynnon Taf, was one of several Senedd members to receive applause from the public gallery.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

Yet even these honorable departures failed to get Labour to reconsider.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

Later, Dad goes to the Labour Exchange for the dole.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt