laboratory
/ləˈbɒr.ə.tər.i/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A laboratory is a room or building where scientists, students, or technicians do tests and experiments. It is also a place for medical tests or product testing.
- The students wore gloves in the laboratory.
- Her blood sample was sent to the laboratory.
- We tested the water in the lab.
Adinary Nuance
Laboratory is the formal word. People often shorten it to lab in speech and everyday writing. Use laboratory in academic, medical, or official contexts; use lab when you sound natural and casual. It is more specific than workshop, which is usually for making or repairing things.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- phòng thí nghiệm
- Spanish
- laboratorio
- Chinese
- 实验室
- Japanese
- 研究室
- Korean
- 실험실
Etymology
Laboratory comes from Medieval Latin laboratorio, from Latin laborare, meaning “to work.” It entered English in the 16th century, first for a place of work or research.
Common phrases
in the laboratorylaboratory testslaboratory equipmentmedical laboratory
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is laboratory formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal. In conversation, most people say **lab**.
- What is the difference between laboratory and lab?
- They mean the same place. **Laboratory** sounds more formal than **lab**.
- Can laboratory be used in medical writing?
- Yes. It is common in medical and scientific writing.
- Is laboratory a common word in IELTS writing?
- Yes. It is useful for science, health, and education topics.