labour

la-bour · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    (British spelling) Work, especially hard physical work.

  2. 2.

    Workers collectively; the workforce.

  3. 3.

    The Labour Party, a political party in the UK and some other countries.

  4. 4.

    The process of childbirth, especially the period from the start of uterine contractions to delivery.

  5. 5.

    (verb) To work hard; to strive.

Forms

plural: labours

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    labour of love — Work done for pleasure rather than profit.
  • •
    labour force — The people available for work in a country or industry.
  • •
    hard labour — Strenuous physical work, especially as a punishment.
  • •
    labour-intensive — Requiring a lot of workers or work.
  • •
    in labour — In the process of giving birth.

Related words

Antonyms: idleness, leisure, rest
See also: labor, toil, work, workforce
Synonyms: effort, exertion, toil, work

Etymology

From Old French labour, from Latin labor ("toil, exertion, hardship"). The British spelling retains the -our ending from French, while American English uses labor.