HOSPITAL


Meaning of HOSPITAL in English

/ ˈhɒspɪtl; NAmE ˈhɑːs-/ noun

a large building where people who are ill / sick or injured are given medical treatment and care :

( BrE )

He had to go to hospital for treatment.

( NAmE )

He had to go to the hospital for treatment.

to be admitted to (the) hospital

to be discharged from (the) hospital

The injured were rushed to (the) hospital in an ambulance.

He died in (the) hospital.

I'm going to the hospital to visit my brother.

a psychiatric / mental hospital

hospital doctors / nurses / staff

There is an urgent need for more hospital beds.

—see also cottage hospital

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BRITISH / AMERICAN

hospital

In BrE you say to hospital or in hospital when you talk about somebody being there as a patient:

I had to go to hospital.

She spent two weeks in hospital

.

In NAmE you need to use the :

I had to go to the hospital.

She spent two weeks in the hospital.

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WORD ORIGIN

Middle English (originally meaning a hospice run by the Knights Hospitallers in the 11th century): via Old French from medieval Latin hospitale , neuter of Latin hospitalis hospitable, from hospes , hospit- host, guest.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.