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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Laboratory \Lab"o*ra*to*ry\, noun; 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.
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
noun
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
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |