laboratory

noun, often attributive

lab·o·ra·to·ry | \ ˈla-b(ə-)rə-ˌtȯr-ē

, sometimes ˈla-bər-ˌtȯr- or ˈla-bə-ˌtȯr- or lə-ˈbȯr-ə-ˌtȯr-, British usually lə-ˈbär-ə-t(ə-)rē

plural laboratories

Definition of laboratory

1a : 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

The lawsuit was filed against fuel companies Trafigura and Vitol for allegedly supplying low-grade oil as well as three laboratories accused of receiving money for falsifying tests on oil bought by Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority. — Washington Post, "Lawsuit targets alleged Puerto Rico power company corruption," 30 June 2019 Back in the laboratory, the researchers cut open the individual coral polyps and counted the number of microplastics. — Jenny Howard, National Geographic, "These corals choose to eat plastic over food," 25 June 2019 Chemist Cafe gives coffee a high-tech treatment serving doctored-up Frappuccinos and iced coffees in a laboratory setting, Imbibing in Doha is limited to hotel bars and lounges, of which there are a good selection. — Jenna Scatena, Condé Nast Traveler, "Why Doha Is Much More Than a Stopover Destination," 4 June 2019 The scientists tasked with understanding how fire destroys structures and devours our possessions need to watch these things burn — in the laboratory, that is. — Rachel Becker, The Verge, "How fire scientists see through flames," 27 July 2018 Currently, companies and laboratories in the U.S. are desperate to employ STEM qualified and inspired women. — Bonnie J. Dunbar, Scientific American, "Sally Ride’s Legacy Lives On," 18 June 2018 Fans of the company’s laboratory-driven daring see that as a concession to Wall Street. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, "Why Nordstrom Is Betting on High-Touch Tech," 25 May 2018 For example, recent data from clinical and laboratory diagnoses estimate that Lyme disease infects about 300,000 Americans every year, which is eight to 10 times more than the number reported in the CDC analysis. — The Washington Post, NOLA.com, "Diseases spread by ticks, mosquitoes and fleas have more than tripled," 1 May 2018 For example, recent data from clinical and laboratory diagnoses estimate that Lyme disease infects about 300,000 Americans every year, which is eight to 10 times more than the number reported in the CDC analysis. — Washington Post, latimes.com, "U.S. cases of disease spread by ticks, mosquitoes and fleas more than tripled in 13-year span," 1 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'laboratory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.