Search results for 'labor':

labour or (N Amer) labor noun 1 strenuous and prolonged work, especially of the physical kind that is done for payment. 2 (usually labours) the amount of effort someone puts in to something • Despite his labours, the garden was still a mess. 3 working people or their productive output regarded collectively as a resource or as a political force • talks between management and labour. 4 the process of giving birth, especially from the point when the contractions of the uterus begin. 5 (Labour) Brit the Labour Party. 6 as adj a in compounds referring or relating to hard work; b referring or relating to working people or their productive output • joined the labour force. verb (laboured, labouring) 1 intrans to work hard or with difficulty. 2 intrans to progress or move slowly and with difficulty • The old man laboured up the hill. 3 intrans to spend a lot of time and effort in the hope of achieving something • laboured endlessly for Scottish devolution. labour a or the point 1 to spend an excessive length of time on one particular subject or issue. 2 to go into one particular subject or issue in too much detail. 3 to keep returning to one particular subject or issue, especially in a tedious or patronizing manner and when it has already been adequately covered. labour under a misapprehension to mistakenly carry on doing or thinking something without being fully aware of all the pertinent facts.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from Latin labor.