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laboratory
6 dictionary results for: laboratory
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
lab·o·ra·to·ry       [lab-ruh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, lab-er-uh-; Brit. luh-bor-uh-tuh-ree, -uh-tree] Pronunciation Key noun, plural -ries, adjective
–noun
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
3.serving a function in a laboratory.
4.relating to techniques of work in a laboratory: laboratory methods; laboratory research.

[Origin: 1595–1605; < ML labōrātōrium workshop, equiv. to L labōrā(re) to labor + -tōrium -tory2]

lab·o·ra·to·ri·al, adjective
lab·o·ra·to·ri·al·ly, adverb
lab·o·ra·to·ri·an, noun
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
lab·o·ra·to·ry       (lāb'rə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē)  Pronunciation Key 
n.   pl. lab·o·ra·to·ries
    1. A room or building equipped for scientific experimentation or research.
    2. An academic period devoted to work or study in such a place.
  1. A place where drugs and chemicals are manufactured.
  2. A place for practice, observation, or testing.


[Medieval Latin labōrātōrium, from Latin labōrāre, to labor, from labor, labor.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
laboratory 
1605, "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). Shortened form lab first attested 1895.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
laboratory

noun
1. a workplace for the conduct of scientific research [syn: lab
2. a region resembling a laboratory inasmuch as it offers opportunities for observation and practice and experimentation; "the new nation is a testing ground for socioeconomic theories"; "Pakistan is a laboratory for studying the use of American troops to combat terrorism" [syn: testing ground

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

laboratory lab·o·ra·to·ry (lāb'rə-tôr'ē)
n.

  1. A room or building equipped for scientific research.
  2. A place where drugs and chemicals are manufactured.
  3. A place for practice, observation, or testing.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Laboratory

Lab"o*ra*to*ry\, n.; pl. Laboratories. [Shortened fr. elaboratory; cf. OF. elaboratoire, F. laboratoire. See Elaborate, Labor.] [Formerly written also elaboratory.] 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.

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