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labour

[ley-ber]

noun

Chiefly British.
  1. labor.



labour

/ ˈleɪbə /

noun

  1. productive work, esp physical toil done for wages

    1. the people, class, or workers involved in this, esp in contrast to management, capital, etc

    2. ( as modifier )

      a labour dispute

      labour relations

    1. difficult or arduous work or effort

    2. ( in combination )

      labour-saving

  2. a particular job or task, esp of a difficult nature

    1. the process or effort of childbirth or the time during which this takes place

    2. ( as modifier )

      labour pains

  3. something done for pleasure rather than gain

“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

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

“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
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Spelling Note

See -or 1.
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Other Word Forms

  • labouringly adverb
  • antilabour adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of labour1

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Twice, in the early stage of labour, Mrs Richards was sent home from hospital.

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But opposition parties have accused the government of eroding workers' rights and "pushing the country back to a labour middle age".

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He had been in prison for three weeks at the time after being handed a two-year prison sentence with hard labour.

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The two countries allege he directed operations of forced labour compounds across Cambodia where thousands of workers were held in compounds surrounded by high walls and barbed wire.

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There are at least 53 scam compounds in the country where organised criminal groups carry out human trafficking, forced labour, torture, deprivation of liberty and slavery, according to the organisation.

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