laboratory

Definitions

labor (work) + -atory (a place for) = literally 'a place for working.' In medieval Latin it named an alchemist's or craftsman's workroom; the meaning later narrowed to the scientific workroom we know today. The everyday clipping 'lab' hides the 'work' inside it.

Why It Means This

The link to 'labor' surprises most people. A laboratory was simply a 'working place' before it became scientific. The same Latin root that gives us laborer (a manual worker) also gives us this — the scientist's bench is, etymologically, just another workroom.

Common Collocations

• 1.research laboratory研究实验室
• 2.science laboratory科学实验室
• 3.laboratory test实验室检测
• 4.laboratory equipment实验室设备
• 5.in the laboratory在实验室里

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The samples were sent to the laboratory for analysis.

• 2.

  She spent the whole summer working in a research laboratory.

• 3.

  Wear safety goggles at all times in the laboratory.