laboratory

noun

LAB-ruh-tor-ee/ˈlæb(ə)ɹəˌtɔɹi/luh-BO-ruh-tree/ləˈbɒɹətɹi/

Plurallaboratories

2 meanings of laboratory

1
nouncountable
A room or building with special tools for doing science experiments and tests.
Like a kitchen, but for science: a place with the tools to mix, test, and study things.
The students put on safety goggles before entering the laboratory.
Most schools have several laboratories for biology and chemistry.
2
nouncountable
A place where medicines, chemicals, or tiny living things are made or prepared.
Like a kitchen where medicines are cooked up instead of food.
The factory's laboratory makes the chemicals used in cleaning products.
Police shut down two laboratories that were making illegal drugs.
Similarfacility, plant

Practice

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Origin

It comes from the Medieval Latin word "labōrātōrium."