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

Because natural compounds often exist in only tiny quantities, they can be difficult and expensive to produce in the laboratory.

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Most existing research comes from laboratory experiments on captive animals, while much less is known about how wild species are affected.

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But I’ve yet to hear a good explanation why certain athletes can handle the clamor of a crowd and others need laboratory conditions.

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Alcaraz talked afterward about going into the laboratory after the Wimbledon disappointment, of working only on skills that made him sharper against Sinner.

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Dash, whose team includes former software engineers from Moderna, automates common laboratory tests such as Elisa, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which is used for tasks such as evaluating a drug’s safety and efficacy.

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Related Words

• lab 
• workshop