laboratory

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

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.

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 Words From

• 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

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

It also gives ideas for engineering new immune-cell-based therapies in the laboratory for fighting diseases such as a cancer.

From BBC

In both computational models and laboratory experiments, the team of scientists used cell density as an effective tool for controlling how mouse cells pattern themselves into complex structures.

From Science Daily

In Tbilisi, Eliava founded the laboratory that would eventually bear his name, the modern-day George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology, and Virology.

From Salon

The research employed a combination of field and laboratory studies, starting with quantifying pesticide residues at suitable hibernation sites for bumble bee queens on Ontario farms.

From Science Daily

WastewaterScan — an infectious disease monitoring network led by researchers from Stanford University and Emory University, with laboratory support from Verily, Alphabet Inc.’s life sciences organization — follows 28 wastewater sites in California.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• lab
• workshop