labour

English

/ˈleɪ.bə/, /ˈleɪ.bɚ/

noun
Definitions
  • Effort expended on a particular task; toil, work.
  • That which requires hard work for its accomplishment; that which demands effort.
  • (uncountable) Workers in general; the working class, the workforce; sometimes specifically the labour movement, organised labour.
  • (uncountable) A political party or force aiming or claiming to represent the interests of labour.
  • The act of a mother giving birth.
  • The time period during which a mother gives birth.
  • (nautical) The pitching or tossing of a vessel which results in the straining of timbers and rigging.
  • An old measure of land area in Mexico and Texas, approximately 177 acres.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English labouren derived from Old French laborer (work) derived from Latin laborare (elaborate, strive, labor, suffer, exert oneself, be in distress, work out).

Origin

Latin

laborare

Gloss

elaborate, strive, labor, suffer, exert oneself, be in distress, work out

Concept
Semantic Field

The body

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms