ENGLISH
REFERENCE

clinic

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈkɫɪnɪk// UK //klˈɪnɪk// clin·ic Archaic General-service

n. a place where you go to see a doctor or nurse for medical help. It is usually smaller than a hospital and focuses on people who do not need to stay overnight.

n. a medical facility providing healthcare services to outpatients, often specialising in a particular type of treatment or diagnosis.


SIMPLE

I have an appointment at the dental clinic tomorrow.

CONTEXTUAL

The local health clinic offers free vaccinations for children every Tuesday morning.

COMPLEX

While the main hospital handles emergency surgeries, the community clinic manages routine check-ups and chronic disease monitoring for the local population.

Origin

Borrowed from French clinique, from Late Latin clīnicus (“a bed-ridden person, one baptized on a sick-bed, a physician”), from Ancient Greek κλῑνικός (klīnikós, “pertaining to a bed”), from κλῑ́νη (klī́nē, “bed”), from κλῑ́νω (klī́nō, “to lean, incline”).

Usage

Often used with 'at' or 'in' to describe location; frequently functions as a modifier in compound nouns like 'fertility clinic' or 'walk-in clinic'.

Idioms1 entry

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