BELABOR

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does belabor mean? 

• BELABOR (verb)
  The verb BELABOR has 3 senses:

1. to work at or to absurd length

2. attack verbally with harsh criticism

3. beat soundly

  Familiarity information: BELABOR used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BELABOR (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they belabor    ... he / she / it belabors   
Past simple: belabored   
Past participle: belabored   
-ing form: belaboring   

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)