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laboratorio

lah-boh-rah-TOH-ree-oh/la.βo.ɾaˈto.ɾjo/

laboratory

Also: lab, research facility
NounmA1
A storybook illustration of a clean, brightly lit laboratory counter featuring various glass beakers filled with colorful liquids and a small microscope.

📝 In Action

El científico pasó horas en el laboratorio analizando las muestras.

A2

The scientist spent hours in the laboratory analyzing the samples.

Necesitamos un laboratorio para hacer esta prueba de agua.

A1

We need a lab to do this water test.

Mi universidad acaba de inaugurar un nuevo laboratorio de física.

B1

My university just inaugurated a new physics laboratory.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • laboratorio de ideas (think tank)
  • taller (workshop (sometimes used for a practical lab))

Common Collocations

  • pruebas de laboratorio – lab tests
  • analizar en el laboratorio – to analyze in the lab

testing ground

Also: workshop, incubator
NounmB2formal
A storybook illustration of a simple wooden workbench where a small, brightly colored wooden toy car prototype is being tested by rolling it down a miniature wooden ramp.

📝 In Action

Esta pequeña ciudad se convirtió en un laboratorio de políticas sociales innovadoras.

B2

This small city became a testing ground for innovative social policies.

Su oficina es un laboratorio donde experimenta con nuevas estrategias de marketing.

C1

His office is a workshop where he experiments with new marketing strategies.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • campo de pruebas (proving ground)
  • semillero (seedbed (of ideas))

Common Collocations

  • laboratorio de ideas – think tank
  • laboratorio social – social experiment/testing environment

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: laboratorio

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'laboratorio' in its figurative sense (testing ground)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
laborar(to work/to toil) — Verb
labor(work/task) — Noun
laboralista(labor lawyer/specialist) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
territoriomeritorio
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word *laboratorium*, which is built from *labor* (meaning 'work' or 'toil'). It literally means 'a place for working.'

First recorded: 17th century (in the modern scientific sense)

Cognates (Related words)

English: laboratoryPortuguese: laboratórioFrench: laboratoire

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'laboratorio' masculine or feminine?

It is always masculine. You must use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'el laboratorio'.

Can I use 'laboratorio' to mean a general workshop or studio?

Yes, especially in formal or artistic contexts. For example, a chef might call their kitchen a 'laboratorio gastronómico' (gastronomic workshop) to emphasize creativity and experimentation.