Meaning & Definition of word "Travail"

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.