laboratory

noun

lab·​o·​ra·​to·​ry ˈla-b(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce laboratory (audio)
 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The filing also details recent developments, including the acquisition of a clinical pathology laboratory and the issuance of new warrants and securities purchase agreements. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024 Other potential sources could include the patients themselves, laboratories noting unusual numbers of positive lab samples or pharmacies noting large numbers of prescription or over-the-counter medications being purchased. Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Depositphotos View 1 Images Spanning nearly 100 laboratories in 45 countries, landmark research has, for the first time, shown an association between genetic brain size and neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2024 But that all gets muddied after Venom shows up at Area 51, the site of a giant laboratory that’s about to be decommissioned by the U.S. government. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for laboratory 

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin laboratorium, from Latin laborare to labor, from labor

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of laboratory was in 1592

Dictionary Entries Near laboratory

Cite this Entry

“Laboratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laboratory. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

laboratory

noun
lab·​o·​ra·​to·​ry ˈlab-(ə-)rə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce laboratory (audio) -ˌtȯr- How to pronounce laboratory (audio)
plural laboratories
: a place equipped for making scientific experiments and tests

Medical Definition

laboratory

noun
lab·​o·​ra·​to·​ry
ˈlab-(ə-)rə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-, British usually lə-ˈbär-ə-t(ə-)rē
plural laboratories
often attributive
: a place equipped for experimental study in a science or for testing and analysis

More from Merriam-Webster on laboratory

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