clin ‧ ic /ˈklɪnɪk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: French ; Origin: clinique , from Greek klinike 'medical practice by the bed' , from kline 'bed' ]
1 . a place, often in a hospital, where medical treatment is given to people who do not need to stay in the hospital
dental/family planning/antenatal etc clinic
women attending an antenatal clinic
an appointment at an outpatient clinic (=clinic for someone who does not need to stay in a hospital)
2 . especially British English a period of time during which doctors give treatment or advice to people with particular health problems:
The baby clinic is held on Monday afternoons.
3 . a meeting during which a professional person gives advice or help to people:
an MP’s clinic
a free clinic on caring for roses
4 . American English a place where medical treatment is given at a low cost:
the doctors who volunteer at the inner-city clinic
5 . American English a group of doctors who work together and share the same offices SYN practice
6 . an occasion when medical students are taught how to decide what illness a patient has and how to treat it
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COLLOCATIONS
■ types of clinic
▪ a health/medical clinic
Test results from a health clinic are available in about three weeks.
▪ a hospital clinic
You can be tested for infection at a special hospital clinic.
▪ a family planning clinic (=giving advice about how to prevent pregnancy)
There are family planning clinics all over the country.
▪ an antenatal clinic British English (=giving medical care to pregnant women)
The staff at the antenatal clinic will give you the results of your blood test.
▪ a fertility clinic (=helping people to become pregnant)
We scheduled an appointment at the fertility clinic.
▪ a dental clinic (=treating problems with teeth)
a specialist dental clinic
▪ an outpatient clinic (=for someone who does not need to stay in hospital)
There's an outpatient clinic for people with diabetes.
▪ a private clinic (=not paid for by the government)
Fees at private clinics are usually very high.
▪ a local clinic
She's involved in health care education at a local clinic.
■ verbs
▪ go to a clinic ( also attend a clinic formal )
Pregnant women should attend an antenatal clinic at least once a month.
▪ hold a clinic (=arrange for a clinic to take place)
The hospital holds vaccination clinics once a fortnight.
■ clinic + NOUN
▪ clinic staff
Clinic staff are hopeful that Stephen will make a full recovery.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ hospital a large building where sick or injured people receive medical treatment:
He was taken by ambulance to the local hospital.
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the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford
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a mental hospital
▪ medical center American English a large hospital, which often has many different departments, including areas for research:
a discovery by doctors at the New England Medical Center
▪ clinic a place, often in a hospital, where medical treatment and advice is given to people who do not need to stay in a hospital:
a family-planning clinic (=which gives people help and advice about birth control)
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a special clinic for people with drug and alcohol problems
▪ hospice a special hospital for people who are dying:
They are hoping to raise funds to build a hospice for sick and dying children.
▪ nursing home/old people's home ( also home ) a place where people who are old and ill can live and be looked after, by nurses:
She doesn't want to end up in a nursing home.
▪ sanatorium a place where people recovering after a long illness were sent in the past, so that they could rest and receive special care:
He was sent to a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps.