labor
labor — noun
1. the effort, usually physical, that people put into their jobs or tasks, especial
the effort, usually physical, that people put into their jobs or tasks, especially when it is hard or tiring; something that requires a lot of energy to complete
The road workers were exhausted after a full day of heavy labor in the heat.
collocation: heavy labor / hard labor
Mira found that farming required more physical labor than she had imagined.
The new machine can do the work of ten people, saving both time and labor.
Building the wooden shelves by hand took hours of careful labor.
Romi's labor on the garden project turned the empty yard into a beautiful space.
用法筆記
Often used with adjectives like 'hard,' 'physical,' 'manual,' or 'skilled' to describe the type of effort involved.
常見錯誤
2. a political party that aims to protect the rights and improve the living conditi
a political party that aims to protect the rights and improve the living conditions of ordinary working people
The Labor Party won the election after promising to raise the minimum wage.
proper noun: Labor Party
Voters in the city have supported Labor for more than twenty years.
Quan read about the history of the British Labour Party for his politics class.
Labor proposed new laws to help people who rent their homes.
- Labour Party
the standard British spelling of the same party
- workers' party
a more generic term for any party representing working-class interests
- Conservative Party
the main centre-right rival party in the UK
用法筆記
In the UK, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries, the party is spelled 'Labour Party' and capitalized. In the US, 'Labor' in this sense refers to the broader labor movement rather than a specific party.
常見錯誤
3. all the people who supply their skills or physical effort to produce goods and s
all the people who supply their skills or physical effort to produce goods and services within an economy, a business, or an industry
The factory hired more labor during the busy season before the holidays.
collocation: hire labor
Skilled labor is hard to find in small towns where young people move away.
collocation: skilled labor / unskilled labor
The country's labor force has grown as more women have joined the workforce.
Nikhil studied the relationship between labor and management at the car company.
Changes in technology often reduce the need for unskilled labor in factories.
- management
the people who direct and control workers
用法筆記
In economics, 'labor' is one of the three main 'factors of production,' alongside land and capital. When discussing a company's workforce, 'labor' can be paired with 'management' to describe the two main groups in a workplace.
4. the process in which a baby is born, involving regular tightenings of the womb a
the process in which a baby is born, involving regular tightenings of the womb and physical effort by the mother over a period of time
Eli was with his wife throughout her labor, holding her hand and encouraging her.
The nurse said the woman was in labor and needed the delivery room.
phrase: in labor / go into labor
After twelve hours of labor, the baby was born healthy and crying loudly.
Sari attended a class to learn breathing techniques for labor and delivery.
- childbirth
a broader term covering the whole process of having a baby
- delivery
specifically the final stage when the baby is born
用法筆記
Often paired with 'delivery' ('labor and delivery') to refer to the whole childbirth process. Used without an article: 'She is in labor.'
常見錯誤
labor — verb
1. to put a lot of physical or mental effort into a job or activity, especially ove
to put a lot of physical or mental effort into a job or activity, especially over a long period of time
The volunteers labored all weekend to clean up the park after the storm.
labor + to-infinitive for purpose
Charlotte labored over her essay late into the night, rewriting each paragraph.
labor + over + noun (task)
Farmers in the valley labor from sunrise until dusk during the harvest season.
Joaquín labored on the car engine for hours before finding the problem.
The team labored under difficult conditions to finish the bridge on time.
文法句型
labor + at/on/over + noun
labor + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Stronger than 'work' — 'labor' implies that the work requires noticeable effort or is physically/mentally demanding. Often used with a preposition ('at,' 'on,' 'over') to specify the task.
常見錯誤
2. to move slowly and with great effort, especially because of tiredness, injury, o
to move slowly and with great effort, especially because of tiredness, injury, or a heavy load
The old truck labored up the steep hill, smoke rising from its engine.
labor + up + [slope]
Sayaka labored through the deep snow, each step sinking to her knee.
labor + through + [obstacle]
With broken shoes, Kemi labored along the rocky path back to the village.
The injured runner labored across the finish line while the crowd cheered.
文法句型
labor + up/along/through/over + noun
用法筆記
Common with motion prepositions ('up,' 'through,' 'along,' 'across') that describe a difficult path or obstacle. Can describe people, vehicles, or animals.
常見錯誤
3. to be affected by a serious problem, difficulty, or mistaken belief that makes p
to be affected by a serious problem, difficulty, or mistaken belief that makes progress harder
The small company labored under a huge debt that it could not repay.
labor + under + [problem/burden]
David labored under the false idea that he had to solve every problem alone.
labor + under + [mistaken belief]
Many families in the region labor under the weight of poverty and poor housing.
The school labored with outdated books and not enough teachers for the students.
- suffer
more direct and more common in everyday speech
- struggle with
similar meaning but less formal
- be burdened by
emphasizes the weight of the problem
- thrive
to grow and succeed under good conditions
文法句型
labor + under + noun
labor + with + noun
用法筆記
Typically in formal or written English. 'Labor under a misconception/delusion' is a fixed expression meaning to believe something false.
常見錯誤
4. (of a woman) to experience the process of contractions and physical effort invol
(of a woman) to experience the process of contractions and physical effort involved in giving birth to a baby
The doctor said she had been laboring for eight hours and was almost ready.
Eve labored through the night with her mother and partner by her side.
labor + through + [period of time]
Women laboring in the hospital are cared for by experienced nurses and midwives.
Naoko's sister labored for only three hours before the baby arrived safely.
- give birth
the more common everyday expression
- be in labor
focuses on being in the process rather than the action itself
用法筆記
Used specifically for the active phase of childbirth. The present participle 'laboring' is common in medical contexts ('laboring mother').
常見錯誤
5. to spend too much time or effort explaining or discussing a small detail, especi
to spend too much time or effort explaining or discussing a small detail, especially to the point where it becomes boring or annoying
Ruben kept laboring the point even though everyone had already agreed with him.
fixed phrase: labor the point
The speaker labored his argument for so long that half the audience fell asleep.
In her report, Allison labored each minor finding as if it were earth-shattering.
The professor tended to labor his explanations, repeating the same idea in different ways.
文法句型
labor + noun (the point, an argument)
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'the point' ('to labor the point') or with abstract nouns like 'argument' or 'issue.' This is a formal usage and sounds unnatural with concrete objects.
常見錯誤
6. to force a person, animal, or machine to work very hard, often to the point of e
to force a person, animal, or machine to work very hard, often to the point of exhaustion
The old farmer labored his horse from morning until night without a break.
Factory owners in the past often labored their workers for fourteen hours a day.
transitive: labor + [person/animal]
Christopher refused to labor his employees beyond the legal working hours.
The construction company was criticized for laboring its machines without proper maintenance.
- ease up on
to reduce pressure on someone
- spare
to refrain from making someone work too hard
文法句型
labor + noun phrase
用法筆記
This transitive verb sense is less common in modern English and can sound old-fashioned or formal, especially when referring to people. 'Overwork' or 'work to the bone' are more common alternatives in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
labor — adjective
1. relating to work, the activity of working, or the conditions in which people do
relating to work, the activity of working, or the conditions in which people do their jobs
The government introduced new labor laws to protect workers from unfair treatment.
collocation: labor law / labor rights
Vinícius attended a conference on labor relations between employers and unions.
collocation: labor relations
Labor costs have risen sharply as the minimum wage has increased each year.
The report examined labor conditions in garment factories across Southeast Asia.
Soraya wrote her thesis on labor movements in twentieth-century Europe.
- workplace
used as a compound noun to describe physical locations or rules
- employment
focuses on the legal or contractual relationship
用法筆記
Usually placed before a noun to describe something connected to the world of work. Common in news, economics, and business contexts. 'Labour' is the British spelling.
常見錯誤
2. connected with a political party that represents the interests of working people
connected with a political party that represents the interests of working people, especially the Labour Party
The Labour candidate promised to create more jobs if she was elected.
proper noun: Labour candidate / Labour government
Haruto disagreed with the Labour government's decision to cut education funding.
Labour policies have traditionally focused on public services and workers' rights.
The newspaper supports the Labour view on raising taxes for the richest people.
- Conservative
describing the main rival party in the UK
- right-wing
describes the opposite political position
用法筆記
In British English, 'Labour' (capitalized) is used as an adjective to describe anything connected to the Labour Party. In US English, this sense is less common because there is no major 'Labor Party.'