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labor
[ ley-ber ]
noun
- productive activity, especially for the sake of economic gain.
Antonyms: , ,
- the body of persons engaged in such activity, especially those working for wages.
Synonyms:
- this body of persons considered as a class ( management and capital ).
- physical or mental work, especially of a hard or fatiguing kind; toil.
Synonyms:
Antonyms: , ,
- a job or task done or to be done.
- the physical effort and periodic uterine contractions of childbirth.
Synonyms: ,
- the interval from the onset of these contractions to childbirth.
- Labor. Also called Labor Department. Informal. the Department of Labor.
verb (used without object)
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
- to strive, as toward a goal; work hard (often followed by for ):
to labor for peace.
- to act, behave, or function at a disadvantage (usually followed by under ):
to labor under a misapprehension.
- to be in the actual process of giving birth.
- to roll or pitch heavily, as a ship.
verb (used with object)
- to develop or dwell on in excessive detail:
Don't labor the point.
Synonyms: ,
- to burden or tire:
to labor the reader with unnecessary detail.
- British Dialect. to work or till (soil or the like).
adjective
- of or relating to workers, their associations, or working conditions:
labor reforms.
labor
/ ˈɪə /
verb
- the US spelling of labour
labor
- The process by which the birth of a mammal occurs, beginning with contractions of the uterus and ending with the expulsion of the fetus and the placenta.
Other Word Forms
- ·ǰ·Բ· adverb
- ·ǰ· adjective
- ·پ··ǰ adjective
- ԴDz··ǰ adjective
- dzܳ··ǰ verb (used with object)
- ···ǰ verb (used with object)
- ··ǰ noun verb (used without object)
- ··ǰ adjective
- ܲ··ǰ·Բ adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of labor1
Example Sentences
The impetus for the strike, union leaders said, was 44 labor law violations allegedly committed by the county, including retaliation and contracting of jobs that are supposed to be filled by union workers.
Colson's roster featured a diverse group of adversaries: two Democratic congressmen, several reporters, a labor leader, as well as the actor Paul Newman.
Union leaders said the impetus for the strike was a string of 44 labor law violations allegedly committed by the county, including retaliation and contracting out work that’s supposed to be done by union members.
The country’s lower wages would give the factory a discount on skilled labor, as well as faster transportation times and a lower tariff rate for exports to the U.S.
And so he devised a division of labor system, which he called parataxonomy.
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Related Words
More About Labor
does labor mean?
Labor is any productive activity, usually in exchange for money or other value, as in My labor in the garden paid off in lots of fresh veggies.
While labor can be any productive activity, it is most often associated with work that is done by moving the body and using tools.
Labor also describes the collection of people doing the work. The labor force is a specific set of employees for an organization or the entire class of people who do physical, or manual, labor.
Labor can be used to mean to perform productive work. While laboring is normally for profit or payment, you might also labor at something like gardening or cleaning. Often, used in this way labor carries a sense of perseverance or adversity, meaning that the person laboring is having a difficult time.
Labor is also the name of the process a female mammal goes through while giving birth. It can describe the whole period from the time that uterine contractions begin until the offspring is born, or it can describe the contractions specifically.
Example: I labor all day just to come home and sleep all night.
Where does labor come from?
The first records of the term labor come from the late 1200s. It ultimately comes from the Latin ō, meaning “work.”
Labor Day is a holiday that is celebrated in many countries around the globe. It honors all workers, but especially those who perform manual labor. Labor Day has different origins for many countries, and is celebrated at different times of the year. While many countries celebrate Labor Day on May 1, the United States celebrates it on the first Monday in September. In some countries it’s known as International Workers’ Day. Whenever it’s celebrated, setting aside a day to honor labor helps us appreciate the hard work of ourselves and others.
Did you know … ?
are some other forms related to labor?
- laboringly (adverb)
- laborless (adjective)
- antilabor (adjective)
- prelabor (noun, verb)
- prolabor (adjective)
are some synonyms for labor?
are some words that share a root or word element with labor?
are some words that often get used in discussing labor?
How is labor used in real life?
Labor is a common word that most often refers to hard work.
For those asking.. I was planning on going to AMA this year but Bambi went into labor 😩 so I'm here taking care of puppies
— Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner)
Happy Labor Day – longest streak of job growth ever, unemployment cut in half. That's what hardworking Americans can do. Let's keep going!
— President Obama (@POTUS44)
Face it! 1 pinch of God's favor can beat 50 years of hard labor
— Rev Run (@RevRunWisdom)
Try using labor!
Which of the following is NOT a synonym for labor?
A. work
B. job
C. idleness
D. industry
When To Use
are other ways to say labor?
Labor refers to mental or physical work, especially that which is hard or fatiguing. When should you use labor instead of work, drudgery, or toil? Find out on .
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