n.
Pronunciation: tr ə - ' v ā l, ' tra- ˌ v ā l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from travailler to torment, labor, journey, from Vulgar Latin *trepaliare to torture, from Late Latin trepalium instrument of torture, from Latin tripalis having three stakes, from tri- + palus stake ― more at POLE
Date: 13th century
1 a : work especially of a painful or laborious nature : TOIL b : a physical or mental exertion or piece of work : TASK , EFFORT c : AGONY , TORMENT
2 : LABOR , PARTURITION
synonyms see WORK