labors

Labors is the plural of labor in American English, and its British English counterpart is labours. The term generally refers to acts of work, effort, or tasks undertaken by people, animals, or machines. In everyday language, labors can describe both the specific pieces of work in a project and the overall exertion involved. The expression "labor of love" is used for work done for sentimental or charitable reasons.

In classical mythology, the Labors of Hercules are a famous set of twelve tasks imposed on the hero by Eurystheus. The assignments include slaying the Nemean Lion, capturing the Erymanthian Boar, and obtaining the Apples of the Hesperides, among others. The phrase has entered common lexicon as a symbol of arduous, formative effort.

In economics and social science, labor denotes the human input in production, distinct from capital and land. "Labor" is common; "labors" is rarely used except in lists or historical phrasing. Related terms include labor force, labor market, and labor unions, which concern employment, rights, and working conditions.

In medicine, labor refers to the process of childbirth; "to go into labor" means to begin delivery. The plural "labors" appears in older or more formal writing to describe multiple childbirth episodes, though modern usage favors "labor" in the singular for most contexts.