laboratory

[lab-ruh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, lab-er-uh-, luh-bor-uh-tuh-ree, -uh-tree]

noun

plural

laboratories 

1. a building, part of a building, or other place equipped to conduct scientific experiments, tests, investigations, etc., or to manufacture chemicals, medicines, or the like.

2. any place, situation, set of conditions, or the like, conducive to experimentation, investigation, observation, etc.; anything suggestive of a scientific laboratory.

adjective

1. serving a function in a laboratory.

2. relating to techniques of work in a laboratory.

   laboratory methods; laboratory research.

laboratory

/ -trɪ, ləˈbɒrətərɪ, ˈlæbrəˌtɔːrɪ /

noun

1. 1. a building or room equipped for conducting scientific research or for teaching practical science

   2. ( as modifier )

      laboratory equipment

2. a place where chemicals or medicines are manufactured

Other Word Forms

• laboratorial adjective
• laboratorially adverb
• laboratorian noun
• interlaboratory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of laboratory¹

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin labōrātōrium workshop, equivalent to Latin labōrā ( re ) to labor + -tōrium -tory ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of laboratory¹

C17: from Medieval Latin labōrātōrium workshop, from Latin labōrāre to _labour

Example Sentences

All in all, the Red Sea is a natural laboratory for understanding how oceans are born, how salt giants accumulate, and how climate and tectonics interact over millions of years.

From Science Daily

Weeks later, a state laboratory in the southern city of Chennai confirmed the worst.

From BBC

Robots depend on powerful motors to provide balance, but they’re not dependable except in carefully curated environments such as laboratories.

From Los Angeles Times

She became an international ambassador for chimps and conservation in 1986 when she saw a film about the mistreatment of laboratory chimps.

From Los Angeles Times

An investigation by the medicines regulator has now warned about 20 more sunscreens from other brands, which share the same base formula, and raised "significant concerns" about a testing laboratory.

From BBC

Related Words

• lab 
• workshop