Origin: Latin suffix -ory
Laboratory has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
"The new laboratory was designed to accommodate the advanced equipment needed for genetic research."
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"
A room, building or institution equipped for scientific research, experimentation or analysis.
"The new university laboratory is fully equipped to conduct advanced genetic testing and analyze complex biological samples."
In plain English: A laboratory is a special room where scientists do experiments and test things.
"The students spent their science class conducting experiments in the school laboratory."
Usage: Use laboratory to refer specifically to a physical facility where scientists conduct experiments and tests. Do not use it metaphorically for general workspaces or offices unless the setting actually resembles a scientific research environment.
The word laboratory comes from Medieval Latin labōrātōrium, which originally referred to a place where work or labor was carried out. It entered English in the 16th century, evolving from this general sense of "workshop" into its modern meaning for scientific research facilities.