Labs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Spaces designated for scientific exploration and study, often outfitted with specialized equipment for experiments or research purposes
2. Rooms or buildings equipped for conducting scientific tests and investigations ; a common nickname for the breed of friendly, medium-large dogs known for their hunting and retrieving skills
3. Facilities designed to support experimentation and study in various scientific fields ; an affectionate way to refer to a popular type of companion and working dog characterized by a thick coat

Etymology: "Labs" is the plural of "lab," a clipped form of "laboratory." The full word came into English from Medieval Latin "laboratorium," a workshop for labour, which descends from Latin "laborare," to work, the same root behind "labour." So the laboratory is, at its core, simply a place of work, and the shortened form kept that sense of a busy workplace while dropping most of the syllables. The dog sense is a later and more informal extension. The Labrador retriever, usually shortened to "lab," takes its name from Labrador, the region of northeastern Canada, though the breed was developed in Newfoundland, not Labrador itself. Its popularity as a family and working dog means that "labs" now refers to these animals as readily as to the rooms where experiments happen.

Synonyms: laboratories, workshops, research facilities, studios, test centers