Laboratories

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Laboratory \Lab"o*ra*to*ry\, n.; pl. {Laboratories}. [Shortened
     fr. elaboratory; cf. OF. elaboratoire, F. laboratoire. See
     {Elaborate}, {Labor.}] [Formerly written also {elaboratory}.]
     1. The workroom of a chemist; also, a place devoted to
        experiments in any branch of natural science; as, a
        chemical, physical, or biological laboratory. Hence, by


        extension, a place where something is prepared, or some
        operation is performed; as, the liver is the laboratory of
        the bile.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Hence: Any place, activity or situation suggestive of a
        scientific laboratory[1], especially in being conducive to
        learning new facts by experimentation or by systematic
        observation; as, the states serve as laboratories where
        different new policies may be tested prior to adoption
        throughout the country.
        [PJC]