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labour
[ ley-ber ]
labour
/ ˈɪə /
noun
- productive work, esp physical toil done for wages
- the people, class, or workers involved in this, esp in contrast to management, capital, etc
- ( as modifier )
a labour dispute
labour relations
- difficult or arduous work or effort
- ( in combination )
labour-saving
- a particular job or task, esp of a difficult nature
- the process or effort of childbirth or the time during which this takes place
- ( as modifier )
labour pains
- labour of lovesomething done for pleasure rather than gain
verb
- intr to perform labour; work
- intr; foll by for, etc to strive or work hard (for something)
- intrusually foll byunder to be burdened (by) or be at a disadvantage (because of)
to labour under a misapprehension
- intr to make one's way with difficulty
- tr to deal with or treat too persistently
to labour a point
- intr (of a woman) to be in labour
- intr (of a ship) to pitch and toss
Spelling Note
Derived Forms
- ˈdzܰԲ, adverb
Other Word Forms
- t·bdzܰ adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of labour1
Example Sentences
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.
Britain's state-owned energy company will not be allowed to use solar panels linked to Chinese slave labour, under changes to government plans.
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.
Parts of the labour movement, including unions such as the GMB and Unite, have warned of risks to thousands of well-paid jobs in the oil and gas sector.
They argue the changes will discourage companies hiring "particularly those at the margins of the labour market" as business will not want to risk costly tribunal cases.
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