laboratory
noun
lab·o·ra·to·ry
ˈla-b(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē 
sometimes ˈla-bər-ˌtȯr-,
or ˈla-bə-ˌtȯr-,
or lə-ˈbȯr-ə-ˌtȯr-
plural laboratories
often attributive
1
a
: a place equipped for experimental study in a science or for testing and analysis
a research laboratory
broadly
: a place providing opportunity for experimentation, observation, or practice in a field of study
b
: a place like a laboratory for testing, experimentation, or practice
That area is a laboratory for cultivating the germ of terrorism.
2
: an academic period set aside for laboratory work
a course of study requiring two lectures and one laboratory per week
Examples of laboratory in a Sentence
experiments conducted in a modern laboratory
Recent Examples on the Web
Renovation of the 53,000-square-foot facility is now in phase one of its multi-phase process, which includes processing areas, laboratories, test kitchen and office spaces.
—
Sydney Sasser, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2025
In laboratory settings, at least, efforts to get wealthier study participants to socially engage have proven beneficial.
—Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 15 June 2025
Solid Combustion Experiment Module — Onishi also replaced the sample cartridges for an ongoing fire experiment in Japan's Kibo laboratory, which is aimed at improving the safety of spacecraft and anywhere else astronauts may live when off Earth.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 14 June 2025
The Navy’s first West Coast research laboratory was established in the same area in 1940, with a particular emphasis on developing sonar and radar.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for laboratory
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Sydney Sasser, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2025
In laboratory settings, at least, efforts to get wealthier study participants to socially engage have proven beneficial.
—Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 15 June 2025
Solid Combustion Experiment Module — Onishi also replaced the sample cartridges for an ongoing fire experiment in Japan's Kibo laboratory, which is aimed at improving the safety of spacecraft and anywhere else astronauts may live when off Earth.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 14 June 2025
The Navy’s first West Coast research laboratory was established in the same area in 1940, with a particular emphasis on developing sonar and radar.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for laboratory
Cite this Entry
“Laboratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laboratory. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
laboratory
noun
lab·o·ra·to·ry
ˈlab-(ə-)rə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
-ˌtȯr-
plural laboratories
: a place equipped for making scientific experiments and tests
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