English Dictionary

BELABOR

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does belabor mean? 

BELABOR (verb)
  The verb BELABOR has 3 senses:

1. to work at or to absurd lengthplay

2. attack verbally with harsh criticismplay

3. beat soundlyplay

  Familiarity information: BELABOR used as a verb is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


BELABOR (verb)

 Conjugation: 
Present simple: I / you / we / they belabor  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation ... he / she / it belabors  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past simple: belabored  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past participle: belabored  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
-ing form: belaboring  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

To work at or to absurd length

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

belabor; belabour

Context example:

belabor the obvious

Hypernyms (to "belabor" is one way to...):

work at; work on (to exert effort in order to do, make, or perform something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something


Sense 2

Meaning:

Attack verbally with harsh criticism

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

belabor; belabour

Context example:

She was belabored by her fellow students

Hypernyms (to "belabor" is one way to...):

criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody


Sense 3

Meaning:

Beat soundly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

belabor; belabour

Hypernyms (to "belabor" is one way to...):

beat; beat up; work over (give a beating to; subject to a beating, either as a punishment or as an act of aggression)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody


 Context examples 


The latter, however, was not a man to be quelled by words, for he caught up his ell-measure sword-sheath and belabored the cursing clerk with it.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“And so belabored as to be scarce able to crawl along it,” cried a third.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The chapman broke a rough jest as he passed, and the woman called shrilly to Alleyne to come and join them, on which the man, turning suddenly from mirth to wrath, began to belabor her with his cudgel.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Give the Devil his due." (English proverb)

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"With your hat in your hand you can travel the entire country." (Dutch proverb)



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