# labor

/ˈɫeɪbɝ/ (US) · /lˈeɪbɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/labor
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. hard work

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

hard physical or mental work.

For teachers: physical or mental exertion, especially when difficult or compulsory.

- Building the stone wall required months of heavy labor in the sun.
- The restoration of the cathedral was a true labor of love, involving hundreds of volunteers who dedicated their weekends to the project.

### 2. the workforce

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

workers looked at as a group, especially those who do physical work.

For teachers: workers collectively, often in contrast to management or capital.

- The company is trying to reduce its labor costs by using more machines.
- The tension between organized labor and the corporate board led to a series of strikes that paralyzed the manufacturing sector for weeks.

### 3. childbirth

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

the period of time and the process of giving birth to a baby.

For teachers: the process of childbirth, specifically the period from the onset of uterine contractions to the expulsion of the fetus.

- She was in labor for twelve hours before the baby was finally born.
- Medical staff monitored the patient closely throughout the final stages of labor to ensure there were no complications for the infant.

### 4. to work hard

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

to work very hard at a difficult task.

For teachers: to exert oneself physically or mentally; to work strenuously.

- The farmers labored in the fields from dawn until dusk.
- The researchers labored for years under difficult conditions before they finally achieved a breakthrough in the treatment of the disease.

### 5. to move with difficulty

verb · CEFR C1 · American English · Formal

to move or breathe with a lot of effort.

For teachers: to proceed or function with great effort or difficulty.

- The old truck labored up the steep hill, making a loud noise.
- The engine labored under the immense weight of the cargo, eventually stalling just as the convoy reached the mountain pass.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.