/ ˌpɒliˈteknɪk; NAmE ˌpɑːl-/ (also BrE informal poly ) noun
(in Britain in the past) a college for higher education, especially in scientific and technical subjects. Most polytechnics are now called, and have the same status as, universities.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 19th cent.: from French polytechnique , from Greek polutekhnos , from polu- many + tekhnē art.