Word: Labour

Pronunciation

/ˈleɪbər/

Definitions

• Noun: Physical or mental work, especially when it involves hard effort or endurance. For example: “The construction workers engaged in heavy labour all day.”
  • Economic context: The workforce or working class, often considered collectively with regard to their rights, conditions, or political power. Example: “The government aims to improve the lives of the working class by creating more job opportunities and better labour laws.”
• Verb: Work diligently or exert oneself physically or mentally, especially at tasks requiring sustained effort. Example: “She laboured for hours over her thesis.”
  • Specific usage: To experience the physical process of childbirth. Example: “She laboured through the night before delivering her baby.”

Phrases

• “Labour of love”: A task done not for financial gain but for pleasure or personal satisfaction. Example: “Restoring the old car was a labour of love for him.”
• “Manual labour”: Physical work, typically involving the use of one’s hands or body rather than machinery. Example: “Many jobs in agriculture involve manual labour.”
• “In the course of labour”: During the process of giving birth or working strenuously towards a goal. Example: “Throughout the course of labour, the midwife provided constant support.”

Example Sentences

• Noun: “After a long day of manual labour, he was exhausted but satisfied with his progress.”
• Verb: “He laboured tirelessly on the project until its completion.”
• Childbirth context: “The mother laboured for several hours before giving birth to a healthy baby girl.”

Synonyms

• Work (noun)
• Effort (noun)
• Struggle (noun)
• Exertion (noun)
• Toil (verb)
• Work hard (verb)
• Endeavor (verb)