work hard; make great effort

they laboured from dawn to dusk

she was patiently labouring over her sketchbooks

have difficulty in doing something despite working hard

United laboured against confident opponents

(of a woman in childbirth) be in labour

she laboured very well and comfortably because she was relaxed

working at an unskilled manual occupation

the labouring classes

working or moving with difficulty

his labouring heart calmed

he had to yell to be heard over the sound of the labouring engine

(of a woman) in labour; in the process of giving birth

labouring women can use a flannel or a spray of water to cool themselves down