lab
lab — noun
1. a specially equipped space used for conducting scientific experiments, carrying
a specially equipped space used for conducting scientific experiments, carrying out research, or producing chemicals and medicines. This is the informal, everyday word for 'laboratory'.
Talia spent the whole afternoon in the chemistry lab preparing samples for an experiment.
collocation: chemistry lab / science lab / research lab
The hospital opened a new lab that can test blood samples within two hours.
Owen put on a white lab coat and safety goggles before entering the clean room.
Students in the biology lab are studying how bacteria grow on different surfaces.
- laboratory
formal equivalent; used in official names and academic writing
- research centre
broader term; can refer to an entire building or institution, not just a single room
文法句型
a lab
the lab
labs
用法筆記
Lab is the normal everyday word for 'laboratory' in both British and American English. In formal or academic writing, 'laboratory' is usually preferred. Lab appears in many compound nouns: lab coat, lab equipment, lab work, lab report, and lab bench.
常見錯誤
2. scientific analysis of bodily fluids or tissue samples, usually performed by a m
scientific analysis of bodily fluids or tissue samples, usually performed by a medical laboratory to check for illness or monitor a person's health. Often used attributively before nouns such as 'results', 'test', or 'report'.
The doctor told Emily that her lab results should be ready by Friday.
collocation: lab results / lab report / lab test
Soraya went to the clinic early to give a urine sample for the lab.
Nikhil's blood lab showed that his iron levels were too low.
The clinic sent a tissue sample to the lab for further analysis.
文法句型
the lab
lab results
blood lab
用法筆記
This sense is most often used attributively — before another noun — as in lab results, lab test, or lab report. It can also appear in fixed phrases like 'send it to the lab', where 'the lab' means the testing department of a hospital or clinic.
常見錯誤
3. short for Labrador Retriever: a large dog with short fur that can be golden, bla
short for Labrador Retriever: a large dog with short fur that can be golden, black, or chocolate-coloured, known for its friendly and gentle nature and often kept as a family pet.
Min adopted a yellow lab from the animal shelter last spring.
collocation: yellow lab / black lab / chocolate lab
Tariq takes his lab for a long walk every morning before breakfast.
The brown lab wagged its tail happily when the children came home from school.
Felipe trained his black lab to fetch the newspaper every morning.
- Labrador
the full name; more formal than 'lab'
- Labrador Retriever
the official breed name
文法句型
a lab
the lab
Labs
用法筆記
When referring to the dog breed, the word is sometimes capitalised as 'Lab', especially in official breed contexts or in writing that treats 'Labrador' as the full name. In everyday speech, lowercase 'lab' is very common. The most common colour variants are yellow, black, and chocolate (brown).