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
Healthcare workers are frequently exposed to formaldehyde in laboratories and medical settings.
—
John F. McQuillan, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Today's building manager could be getting instant feedback from elevators and other conveyances, the refrigeration systems in kitchens and laboratories, and the energy used by EV charging stations.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
In their laboratory, Mederos and her team used an overhead projector to simulate the shadow of a raptor.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025
But issues with the test capsule left the astronauts stranded in space, with no choice but to remain at the orbital laboratory until a return journey could commence.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laboratory
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John F. McQuillan, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Today's building manager could be getting instant feedback from elevators and other conveyances, the refrigeration systems in kitchens and laboratories, and the energy used by EV charging stations.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
In their laboratory, Mederos and her team used an overhead projector to simulate the shadow of a raptor.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025
But issues with the test capsule left the astronauts stranded in space, with no choice but to remain at the orbital laboratory until a return journey could commence.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 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 2 Apr. 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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