laboratory

英[lə'bɒrə,t(ə)rɪ;'læb(ə)rə,t(ə)rɪ] 美['læbrə'tɔri]

1. a workplace for the conduct of scientific research

2. a region resembling a laboratory inasmuch as it offers opportunities for observation and practice and experimentation;

"the new nation is a testing ground for socioeconomic theories"

"Pakistan is a laboratory for studying the use of American troops to combat terrorism"