labor

la·bor

Pronunciation: 'lA-b&r

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French labur, from Latin labor; perhaps akin to Latin labare to totter, labi to slip -- more at SLEEP

1 a : expenditure of physical or mental effort especially 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 (as dilation of the cervix and contraction of the uterus) 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