First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1labor
noun la·bor \ˈlā-bər\
: physical or mental effort
: work for which someone is paid
: workers considered as a group
Full Definition of LABOR
1
a : expenditure of physical or mental effort especially when difficult or compulsory b (1) : human activity that provides the goods or services in an economy (2) : the services performed by workers for wages as distinguished from those rendered by entrepreneurs for profits c : the physical activities (as dilation of the cervix and contraction of the uterus) involved in giving birth; also : the period of such labor
2
: an act or process requiring labor : task
3
: a product of labor
4
a : an economic group comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages b (1) : workers employed in an establishment (2) : workers available for employment c : the organizations or officials representing groups of workers
5
usually Labour : the Labour party of the United Kingdom or of another part of the Commonwealth of Nations
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Origin of LABOR
Middle English, from Anglo-French labur, from Latin labor; perhaps akin to Latin labare to totter, labi to slip — more at sleep
Synonym Discussion of LABOR
work, labor, travail, toil, drudgery, grind mean activity involving effort or exertion. work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force <too tired to do any work>. labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion <farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor>. travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering <years of travail were lost when the house burned>. toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor <his lot would be years of back-breaking toil>. drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor <an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery>. grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body <the grind of the assembly line>.
work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living. work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not <her work as a hospital volunteer>. employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer <your employment with this firm is hereby terminated>. occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training <his occupation as a trained auto mechanic>. calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession <the ministry seemed my true calling>. pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest <her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit>. métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted <acting was my one and only métier>. business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs <the business of managing a hotel>.
work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living. work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not <her work as a hospital volunteer>. employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer <your employment with this firm is hereby terminated>. occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training <his occupation as a trained auto mechanic>. calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession <the ministry seemed my true calling>. pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest <her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit>. métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted <acting was my one and only métier>. business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs <the business of managing a hotel>.
Other Business Terms
2labor
verb
: to do work
: to work hard in order to achieve something
: to move or proceed with effort
la·boredla·bor·ing \-b(ə-)riŋ\
Full Definition of LABOR
intransitive verb
1
: to exert one's powers of body or mind especially with painful or strenuous effort : work
2
: to move with great effort <the truck labored up the hill>
3
: to be in the labor of giving birth
4
: to suffer from some disadvantage or distress <labor under a delusion>
5
of a ship : to pitch or roll heavily
transitive verb
1
archaic a : to spend labor on or produce by labor b : to strive to effect or achieve
2
: to treat or work out in often laborious detail <labor the obvious>
4
: to cause to labor
See labor defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of LABOR
14th century
3labor
adjective
Definition of LABOR
1
: of or relating to labor
2
capitalized : of, relating to, or constituting a political party held to represent the interests of workers or made up largely of organized labor groups
First Known Use of LABOR
1640
Other Business Terms
LABOR Defined for Kids
1labor
noun la·bor \ˈlā-bər\
Definition of LABOR for Kids
1
: usually hard physical or mental effort
2
: something that has to be done : task <Now a procession of ants appeared … and went about their labors … — Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer>
3
: work for which someone is paid <The bill included parts and labor.>
4
: workers considered as a group <There's a shortage of skilled labor.>
5
: the process by which or time during which a woman gives birth
Synonym Discussion of LABOR
labor and work mean action involving effort or exertion. work can apply to either mental or physical effort and may involve something that is enjoyable but tiring. <Decorating the gym was hard work.> labor suggests great or unpleasant usually physical exertion. <She dreaded the dull labor of cleaning.>
2labor
verb
la·boredla·bor·ing
Definition of LABOR for Kids
1
: to work hard : toil <Workers labored in the field.>
2
: to move slowly and with great effort <The truck labored up the hill.>
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