Laboratory

Laboratory
Laboratory Lab"o*ra*to*ry, n.; pl. {Laboratories}. [Shortened fr. elaboratory; cf. OF. elaboratoire, F. laboratoire. See {Elaborate}, {Labor.}] [Formerly written also {elaboratory}.] 1. The workroom of a chemist; also, a place devoted to experiments in any branch of natural science; as, a chemical, physical, or biological laboratory. Hence, by extension, a place where something is prepared, or some operation is performed; as, the liver is the laboratory of the bile. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence: Any place, activity or situation suggestive of a scientific laboratory[1], especially in being conducive to learning new facts by experimentation or by systematic observation; as, the states serve as laboratories where different new policies may be tested prior to adoption throughout the country. [PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • laboratory — [n] testing room chemistry laboratory, lab, research laboratory, workshop; concepts 312,439,441,448,449 …   New thesaurus

  • laboratory — [lab′rə tôr΄ē; ] occas. [ lab′ər ə tôr΄ē; ] Brit [ lə bôr′ə tər ē] n. pl. laboratories [ML laboratorium < L laborare: see LABOR, vi.] 1. a room, building, etc. for scientific experimentation or research 2. a place for preparing chemicals,… …   English World dictionary

  • laboratory — UK US /ləˈbɒrətəri/ US  /ˈlæbrətɔːri/ noun [C] (plural laboratories) (INFORMAL lab) ► a room or building with equipment for doing scientific tests: »The company makes analytical equipment for industrial and research laboratories. »laboratory… …   Financial and business terms

  • laboratory — (n.) c.1600, building set apart for scientific experiments, from M.L. laboratorium a place for labor or work, from L. laboratus, pp. of laborare to work (see LABOR (Cf. labor) (n.)). Figurative use by 1660s …   Etymology dictionary

  • laboratory — is pronounced in BrE with the stress on the second syllable and in AmE with the stress on the first syllable (and the final syllable like Tory) …   Modern English usage

  • laboratory — ► NOUN (pl. laboratories) ▪ a room or building for scientific experiments, research, or teaching, or for the manufacture of drugs or chemicals. ORIGIN Latin laboratorium, from laborare to labour …   English terms dictionary

  • Laboratory — Modern biochemistry laboratory at the University of Cologne …   Wikipedia

  • laboratory — 01. He was working in his [laboratory] on some kind of experiment when the explosion occurred. 02. We went to the Language [lab] once a week to work on our listening skills. 03. There was an accident in the chemistry [laboratory] when some guy… …   Grammatical examples in English

  • laboratory */*/ — UK [ləˈbɒrət(ə)rɪ] / US [ˈlæbrəˌtɔrɪ] noun [countable] Word forms laboratory : singular laboratory plural laboratories a) a building or large room where people do scientific and medical experiments or research our new research laboratory b) [only …   English dictionary

  • laboratory — lab|o|ra|to|ry [ læbrə,tɔri, British lə bɔrət(ə)ri ] noun count ** a building or large room where people do scientific and medical experiments or research: our new research laboratory a. only before noun working in, used in, or done in a… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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