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labor
/ˈleɪ.bɚ/
The word carries a weight of exertion and struggle that "work" does not. While work can be routine or effortless, labor implies a taxing expenditure of energy, often associated with physical strain or long-term persistence. In an economic context, it shifts from individual effort to a collective identity. It represents the human element of production, often carrying political connotations related to unions, class struggle, and the rights of workers. When applied to childbirth, the term transforms into a biological process of intense, rhythmic pressure. The shared thread across all meanings is the concept of "straining toward a result," whether that result is a finished project, a paycheck, or a new life.
Uncountable when referring to general hard work, the workforce, or the biological process of childbirth ('The project required intense labor'). Countable when referring to a specific, painstaking task or a detailed piece of work ('This book was a labor of love').
💬Conversación Casual
Leo, your mom's in labor. Get a move on and help her to the car.
bet. just let me finish this round first.
Meanings
Physical or mental effort used to achieve a goal; hard work.
"The construction of the pyramids required an immense amount of manual labor."
Work performed for wages; the workforce as a whole.
"The union represents the interests of skilled labor in the automotive industry."
The process of childbirth, specifically the contractions of the uterus.
"She was in labor for twelve hours before the baby was finally born."
To work hard to achieve or produce something; to exert great effort.
"He labored over the manuscript for three years before it was published."
To move with difficulty or effort; to breathe heavily.
"The injured hiker labored up the steep incline toward the summit."