[la.bor] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L labor; perh. akin to L labare to totter, labi to slip--more at sleep] (14c) 1 a: expenditure of physical or mental effort esp. when difficult or compulsory b (1): human activity that provides the goods or services in an economy (2): the services performed by workers for wages as distinguished from those rendered by entrepreneurs for profits c: the physical activities involved in giving birth; also: the period of such labor
2: an act or process requiring labor: task
3: a product of labor
4. a: an economic group comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages b (1): workers employed in an establishment (2): workers available for employment c: the organizations or officials representing groups of workers
5. usu Labour: the Labour party of the United Kingdom or of another nation of the Commonwealth syn see work
[2]labor vb la.bored ; la.bor.ing vi (14c) 1: to exert one's powers of body or mind esp. with painful or strenuous effort: work
2: to move with great effort "the truck ~ed up the hill"
3: to be in the labor of giving birth
4: to suffer from some disadvantage or distress "~ under a delusion"
5. of a ship: to pitch or roll heavily ~ vt 1 archaic a: to spend labor on or produce by labor b: to strive to effect or achieve
2: to treat or work out in often laborious detail "~ the obvious"
3: distress, burden
4: to cause to labor [3]labor adj (1640) 1: of or relating to labor
2. cap: of, relating to, or constituting a political party held to represent the interests of workers or made up largely of organized labor groups