polyclinic
Definition
- Noun:
- A medical facility offering specialized care: A "polyclinic" is a hospital or clinic that treats various types of diseases and injuries, often with multiple specialized departments or services, though typically not providing long-term inpatient care.
Usage Examples
- (A facility where multiple medical specialists are available.)
- (A clinic with several specialized departments.)
Advanced Usage
- "Polyclinic" vs. "clinic": A "polyclinic" is distinguished from a general clinic by its breadth of specialized services, often serving as a referral center for primary care physicians.
- After his family doctor diagnosed a rare condition, he was referred to the polyclinic for further tests. (A larger facility with more specialists.)
Variants and Related Words
- Polyclinic (n): no common variants, but note the prefix "poly-" meaning "many."
- Clinic (n): a smaller medical facility, often for outpatient care.
- The local clinic handles routine illnesses, while the polyclinic manages complex cases. (A comparison of facility sizes.)
Synonyms
- Medical center: a facility providing comprehensive medical care.
- Multispecialty clinic: a clinic with multiple medical specialties.
Related Idioms
- "One-stop shop": (informal) a place where many services are available in one location.
- The polyclinic is a one-stop shop for all your health needs. (A convenient, comprehensive medical facility.)