fā̆brĭca, ae, f. [1. faber], the workshop of an artisan who works in hard materials (syn.: taberna, officina).
I Prop., Ter. Ad. 584; 716: Vulcanus, qui Lemni fabricae traditur praefuisse, Cic. N. D. 3, 22, 55: armorum, armory , Veg. Mil. 2, 11 (for which: armorum officinae, Caes. B. C. 1, 34 fin. ).—
II Transf., the art , trade , or profession of such an artisan , Vitr. 1, 1: pictura et fabrica ceteraeque artes habent quendam absoluti operis effectum, architecture , Cic. N. D. 2, 13, 35; cf. id. Div. 1, 51, 161; and: natura effectum esse mundum: nihil opus fuisse fabrica, id. ib. 1, 20, 53: omnis fabrica aeris et ferri, id. N. D. 2, 60, 150: aeraria, ferrea, materiaria, the art of working in brass , etc., Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 197 sq.; cf.: aerariae artis, Just. 36, 4, 4; and: ejus fabricae, quam Graeci χαλκευτικὴν vocant, Quint. 2, 21, 10.—In apposition with ars: abies Graeco fabricae artis genere spectabilis, Plin. 16, 42, 82, § 225: servus arte fabrica peritus, Dig. 33, 7, 19 fin. : fanum solerti fabrica structum, with artistic skill , Ap. Met. 6, 3, 10.—
2 In gen., any skilful production , a fabric , building , etc.: admirabilis membrorum animantium, Cic. N. D. 2, 47, 121; cf. id. Off. 1, 35, 127; Pall. 1, 7, 4; 1, 9, 2 al.—Of man as the creature of God, Prud. Hymn. de Rad. Dom. 45. —
b In the comic writers, a crafty device , trick , stratagem : ei nos facetis fabricis et doctis dolis Glaucumam ob oculos obiciemus, Plaut. Mil. 2, 1, 69; id. Cist. 2, 2, 5: nescio quam fabricam facit, id. Ep. 5, 2, 25; id. Bacch. 2, 3, 132: ad senem fingere, Ter. Heaut. 545 al.