labour
UK: ˈleɪbə | US: ˈleɪbər
n. physical or mental work, especially of a hard or tiring nature
n. the process of childbirth
vt. to work hard; to strive or struggle toward a goal
vi. to work manually or with effort
The word "labour" traces back to Latin labor, meaning "toil, exertion, or hardship." It entered Old French as labour (physical or agricultural work) and was later adopted into Middle English with similar meanings. The root lab- consistently conveys effort or struggle, while the suffix -our (spelled -or in American English) nominalizes the action. Over time, the term expanded to include childbirth (from the effort involved) and metaphorical striving (e.g., "labouring under a misconception").
The construction workers endured hours of physical labour under the sun.
She went into labour early in the morning and gave birth by noon.
He laboured for years to perfect his craft.
The report highlights the exploitation of child labour in factories.
They laboured through the dense forest to reach the village.