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laboratory

[ lab-ruh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, lab-er-uh-; British luh-bor-uh-tuh-ree, -uh-tree ]
/ ˈlæb rəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈlæb ər ə-; British ləˈbɒr ə tə ri, -ə tri /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR laboratory ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural lab·o·ra·to·ries.

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

adjective

serving a function in a laboratory.
relating to techniques of work in a laboratory: laboratory methods; laboratory research.

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RELATED WORDS

workshop, lab

Nearby words

  1. labor, division of,
  2. labor-intensive,
  3. labor-management relations act,
  4. labor-saving,
  5. laborare est orare,
  6. laboratory diagnosis,
  7. laboratory school,
  8. labored,
  9. laboredly,
  10. laborer

Origin of laboratory

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin labōrātōrium workshop, equivalent to Latin labōrā(re) to labor + -tōrium -tory2
Related formslab·o·ra·to·ri·al, adjectivelab·o·ra·to·ri·al·ly, adverblab·o·ra·to·ri·an, nounin·ter·lab·o·ra·to·ry, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for laboratory

British Dictionary definitions for laboratory

laboratory

/ (ləˈbɒrətərɪ, -trɪ, US ˈlæbrəˌtɔːrɪ) /

noun plural -ries

  1. a building or room equipped for conducting scientific research or for teaching practical science
  2. (as modifier)laboratory equipment
a place where chemicals or medicines are manufactured
Often shortened to: lab
See also language laboratory

Word Origin for laboratory

C17: from Medieval Latin labōrātōrium workshop, from Latin labōrāre to labour
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
Word Origin and History for laboratory

laboratory

n.

c.1600, "building set apart for scientific experiments," from Medieval Latin laboratorium "a place for labor or work," from Latin laboratus, past participle of laborare "to work" (see labor (n.)). Figurative use by 1660s.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for laboratory

laboratory

[ lăb′rə-tôr′ē ]

n.

A room or building equipped for scientific research.
A place where drugs and chemicals are manufactured.
A place for practice, observation, or testing.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.