laboratory

[ lab-ruh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, lab-er-uh-; British luh-bor-uh-tuh-ree, -uh-tree ]
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noun,plural lab·o·ra·to·ries.
  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.

Origin of laboratory

1
1595–1605; <Medieval Latin labōrātōrium workshop, equivalent to Latin labōrā(re) to labor + -tōrium-tory2

Other words from laboratory

  • lab·o·ra·to·ri·al, adjective
  • lab·o·ra·to·ri·al·ly, adverb
  • lab·o·ra·to·ri·an, noun
  • in·ter·lab·o·ra·to·ry, adjective

Words Nearby laboratory

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use laboratory in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for laboratory

laboratory

/ (ləˈbɒrətərɪ, -trɪ, US ˈlæbrəˌtɔːrɪ) /


nounplural -ries
    • a building or room equipped for conducting scientific research or for teaching practical science

    • (as modifier): laboratory equipment

  1. a place where chemicals or medicines are manufactured

Origin of laboratory

1
C17: from Medieval Latin labōrātōrium workshop, from Latin labōrāre to labour
  • Often shortened to: lab

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012