# LAB

/ˈɫæb/ (US) · /lˈæb/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lab
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a laboratory

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

a room or building where scientists do tests and research.

For teachers: a laboratory; a facility providing controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed.

- The chemistry students spent all afternoon in the lab doing experiments.
- The university recently upgraded its research lab with state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate more complex molecular biology studies.

### 2. a dog breed

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

a short name for a Labrador, a popular type of large, friendly dog.

For teachers: a Labrador retriever; a common breed of large, versatile gun dog.

- We took our yellow lab to the park to play fetch.
- Known for their gentle temperament and intelligence, labs are frequently trained as service animals for people with visual impairments.

### 3. political party

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

a short name for the Labour Party, a major political group in the UK.

For teachers: the Labour Party; a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations.

- The latest polls show Lab ahead of the other parties in the north.
- Political analysts observed a significant shift in voter sentiment toward Lab following the announcement of their new economic platform.

### 4. astronomy term

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Stands for Lyman-alpha blob.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Lyman-alpha blob; a large concentration of gas emitting the Lyman-alpha emission line.

- Astronomers discovered a massive lab in a distant part of the universe.
- The detection of a high-redshift lab provides crucial data regarding the formation of massive galaxies in the early universe.

### 5. to practice

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang

to practice a game or skill experimentally to see what works.

For teachers: to practice or experiment with strategies, especially in fighting games, outside of competitive matches.

- I need to lab this new character before I enter the tournament.
- He spent hours in training mode to lab the specific frame data required to punish his opponent's most common attacks.

## Examples

- The scientist is working in the lab today.
- Students must wear safety goggles and a white coat whenever they are working in the chemistry lab.
- While the initial hypothesis was formed in the field, the team had to return to the lab to conduct the precise molecular analysis required for publication.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.