labor
UK: ˈleɪbə | US: ˈleɪbər
n. physical or mental work, especially of a hard or tiring nature
n. the process of childbirth
vi. to work hard; to strive or struggle toward a goal
The word "labor" comes directly from Latin labor, meaning "toil, exertion, or hardship." It retained its core sense of strenuous effort in English, later expanding to include childbirth (mid-16th century) due to the physical effort involved. The Latin root also spawned related terms like "laborious" and "collaborate," reflecting shared effort.
The construction workers endured hours of labor under the hot sun.
She went into labor at midnight and delivered a healthy baby by dawn.
Scientists labor for years to uncover breakthroughs in medicine.
The project required the combined labor of dozens of volunteers.
Manual labor often goes underappreciated in modern society.