Labour

Definition

Labour (alternative American spelling: labor) is a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to work, especially physical work, or the workforce engaged in industrial or manual tasks. It can also mean the process of childbirth. As a verb, it means to work hard or make great effort.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈleɪbɚ/
• Respelling: LAY-bur

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈleɪbə/
• Respelling: LAY-buh

Etymology

The word "labour" originates from the Latin "labor," meaning "work" or "toil." It entered Old French as "labour" and Middle English with its current spelling. The term retains its association with effort, toil, and productive work.

Derivatives

• Labourer (noun)
• Labour-intensive (adjective)
• Labourious (adjective)
• Labourism (noun)
• Labour-saving (adjective)

Synonyms

• Work
• Toil
• Effort

Antonyms

• Rest
• Leisure
• Idleness

Usage

The term "labour" is used in a wide range of contexts. For example, "He is engaged in manual labour" refers to physical work, while "She went into labour last night" pertains to childbirth. The verb form is used as in "They laboured to complete the project."

Related Terms

• Work: Effort exerted to achieve a goal.
• Employment: The condition of having paid work.
• Task: A piece of work to be done.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• Work, especially physical work: Refers to manual or industrial effort.
  • Example: "The construction required a lot of skilled labour."
• The workforce engaged in industrial tasks: Refers to the people employed in physical or manual work.
  • Example: "Labour unions were formed to protect workers' rights."
• The process of childbirth: Refers to the act of delivering a baby.
  • Example: "She was in labour for eight hours."

Verb

• To work hard or make a great effort: Refers to exerting oneself to accomplish a task.
  • Example: "They laboured for days to repair the damages."
• To struggle or suffer from difficulty: Refers to enduring hardship or effort.
  • Example: "He laboured under the weight of his responsibilities."