lab English · revision 5330

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1895}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /læb/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a shortening of [[laboratory]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A laboratory: 1895 in the OED, Barnhart and Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is used as an informal word and often in combinations such as ''lab assistant''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) Lab is also short for a [[Labrador]] dog, from 1950.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1895 – a laboratory.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1950 – a Labrador dog.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' A [[laboratory]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A [[Labrador retriever]].^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lab coat]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[laboratory]]

+ * [[labour]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A much older lab, a blab or tell-tale, with a verb “to blab” from 1377, is long obsolete except in dialect.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) ''Lab'' with a capital is short for the British [[Labour Party]], from 1892.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}