labour

noun (WORK) UK (US labor)

/ˈleɪ.bər/

/-bɚ/

Definition

C1 [U] practical work, especially that which involves physical effort: The car parts themselves are not expensive, it's the labour that costs the money. manual labour (= hard work using the hands)Work, working and the workplaceWorking hours and periods of work C1 [U] workers, especially people who do practical work with their hands: skilled/unskilled labourWorkers in general labours (US also labors) [plural] literary › all the effort and hard work that have been involved in doing a particular piece of work: Are you tired after your labours? West was paid very little for his labours. Retirement is the time to enjoy the fruits of your labours.Effort and expending energyTrying and making an effortWork, working and the workplaceWorking hours and periods of work

(Definition of labour noun (WORK) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)