Meaning & Definition of word "Travail"

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    Travail

    /trəˈvāl/

    noun:

    • 1. Strenuous or painful effort; toil.
      • Example: The farmers spent hours in travail, plowing the fields under the scorching sun.
    • 2. The labor of childbirth.
      • Example: After hours of travail, she finally gave birth to a healthy baby.

    verb:

    • 1. To work extremely hard or to toil.
      • Example: He had to travail through the night to complete the project on time.
    • 2. To suffer from pain or anguish.
      • Example: She could see him travailing with grief after his loss.

    Etymology

    From Old French 'travaillier', meaning 'to toil, work'.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    travail of love:

    Work done for the sake of love rather than for reward.

    in travail:

    In the process of giving birth; in labor.

    Related Words

    travailler:

    To work (French).

    travailleur:

    Worker (French).

    Slang Meanings of travail

    Meaning: To struggle hard with something.

    Example Sentence: I've been travailing over this project for weeks.

    Meaning: To work oneself to exhaustion.

    Example Sentence: After travailing all day, I just want to crash.