1. physical or mental work, especially of a hard or fatiguing kind
Usage: British spelling
2. workers considered as a group, especially those doing manual work
Usage: British spelling
3. the process of childbirth, especially the period of contractions
Usage: British spelling; medical

1. to work hard; to make great effort
Usage: British spelling
2. to move or proceed with difficulty
Usage: British spelling

Examples

• The construction required months of hard labour.
• Labour unions negotiated for better working conditions.
• She went into labour at midnight.
• The old engine laboured up the steep hill.
• He laboured over his essay for hours.
• The ship laboured through the rough seas.
• Manual labour built these ancient monuments.