labor
n. uncountable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɫeɪbɝ// UK //lˈeɪbɐ// la·bor
n. hard work, especially physical work that is difficult. It can also mean the process of giving birth to a baby.
n. physical or mental effort, especially when difficult or compulsory; also the period of childbirth from the start of uterine contractions to delivery.
The construction of the stone wall required months of hard labor.
After twelve hours of labor, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy in the early morning.
The shift from manual labor to automated systems has fundamentally altered the economic landscape of the manufacturing sector over the last century.
Usage
Uncountable when referring to work or the workforce; countable when referring to the specific process of childbirth.