4. (Zoöl.) (a) The organ of insects which covers the mouth beneath, and
serves as an under lip. It consists of the second pair of maxillæ,
usually closely united in the middle line, but bearing a pair of palpi
in most insects. It often consists of a thin anterior part (ligula or
palpiger) and a firmer posterior plate (mentum). (b) Inner margin of
the aperture of a shell.
Lab"lab (lb"lb), n. (Bot.) an East Indian name for several twining
leguminous plants related to the bean, but commonly applied to the
hyacinth bean (Dolichos Lablab).
La"bor (l"br), n. [OE. labour, OF. labour, laber, labur, F. labeur, L.
labor; cf. Gr. lamba`nein to take, Skr. labh to get, seize.] [Written
also labour.] 1. Physical toil or bodily exertion, especially when
fatiguing, irksome, or unavoidable, in distinction from sportive
exercise; hard, muscular effort directed to some useful end, as
agriculture, manufactures, and like; servile toil; exertion; work.
God hath set Labor and rest, as day and night, to men Successive.
Milton.
2. Intellectual exertion; mental effort; as, the labor of compiling a
history.
3. That which requires hard work for its accomplishment; that which
demands effort.
Being a labor of so great a difficulty, the exact performance
thereof we may rather wish than look for.
Hooker.