Laboratory

3 definitions 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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  laboratory
       n 1: a workplace for the conduct of scientific research [syn: {lab},
             {research lab}, {research laboratory}, {science lab}, {science
            laboratory}]
       2: a region resembling a laboratory inasmuch as it offers
          opportunities for observation and practice and
          experimentation; "the new nation is a testing ground for
          socioeconomic theories"; "Pakistan is a laboratory for
          studying the use of American troops to combat terrorism"
          [syn: {testing ground}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  32 Moby Thesaurus words for "laboratory":
     X ray, blood bank, charity ward, clinic, consultation room,
     delivery room, dispensary, emergency, examining room, fever ward,
     hospital room, intensive care, isolation, lab, labor room,
     maternity ward, nursery, operating room, pharmacy, prison ward,
     private room, proving ground, recovery room,
     research establishment, research installation, research laboratory,
     semi-private room, surgery, therapy, think tank, treatment room,
     ward