laboratory

laboratory [lab′rə tôr΄ē; ] occas. [ lab′ər ə tôr΄ē; ] Brit [ lə bôr′ə tər ē]

n.

pl. laboratories [ML laboratorium < L laborare: see LABOR, vi.]

1. a room, building, etc. for scientific experimentation or research

2. a place for preparing chemicals, drugs, etc.

☆ 3. a place where theories, techniques, and methods, as in education or social studies, are tested, analyzed, demonstrated, etc.

4. a room, often containing special equipment and materials, in which students work to enhance skills, remedy deficiencies, etc. in a particular subject, as a foreign language

5. a class period during which students perform experiments or work in a laboratory

adj.

of or performed in, or as in, a laboratory