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labour

[ ley-ber ]

noun

Chiefly British.


labour

/ ˈɪə /

noun

  1. productive work, esp physical toil done for wages
    1. the people, class, or workers involved in this, esp in contrast to management, capital, etc
    2. ( as modifier )

      a labour dispute

      labour relations

    1. difficult or arduous work or effort
    2. ( in combination )

      labour-saving

  2. a particular job or task, esp of a difficult nature
    1. the process or effort of childbirth or the time during which this takes place
    2. ( as modifier )

      labour pains

  3. labour of love
    something done for pleasure rather than gain
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. intr to perform labour; work
  2. intr; foll by for, etc to strive or work hard (for something)
  3. intrusually foll byunder to be burdened (by) or be at a disadvantage (because of)

    to labour under a misapprehension

  4. intr to make one's way with difficulty
  5. tr to deal with or treat too persistently

    to labour a point

  6. intr (of a woman) to be in labour
  7. intr (of a ship) to pitch and toss
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Spelling Note

See -or 1.
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Derived Forms

  • ˈdzܰԲ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • t·bdzܰ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of labour1

C13: via Old French from Latin labor; perhaps related to ī to fall
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Clothing manufacturers are among the businesses hit hardest by tariffs as they source labour from countries such as China and Vietnam, which have faced steep levies from the US.

From

It is built on green energy, access to foreign labour, tourism and significant investment and technology transfer from China.

From

US companies have tried to move their supply chains away from China, but they have struggled to find the same scale of infrastructure and skilled labour elsewhere.

From

Britain's state-owned energy company will not be allowed to use solar panels linked to Chinese slave labour, under changes to government plans.

From

Even more striking: crimes of vastly different severity carry the same penalty - like practicing homoeopathy without a licence, jumping a red light, or forcing someone into labour - all punishable with a one-year sentence.

From

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labor unionistLabour and Socialist International