Polytechnic — Pol y*tech nic (p[o^]l [i^]*t[e^]k n[i^]k), a. [Gr. poly technos; poly s many + te chnh an art: cf. F. polytechnique.] Comprehending, or relating to, many arts and sciences; applied particularly to schools in which many branches of art and… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
polytechnic — [päl΄itek′nik] adj. [Fr polytechnique < Gr polytechnos, skilled in many arts < poly , POLY + technē: see TECHNIC] of or providing instruction in many scientific and technical subjects n. a polytechnic school … English World dictionary
polytechnic — 1805, from Fr. École Polytechnique, engineering school founded 1794 (as École des Travaux publics) in Paris; from Gk. polytekhnos skilled in many arts, from polys many (see POLY (Cf. poly )) + tekhne art (see TECHNO (Cf. techno )) … Etymology dictionary
polytechnic — a term for an institution of further education, has largely fallen out of use in the UK since 1992, when polytechnics were legally entitled to call themselves universities … Modern English usage
polytechnic — ► NOUN ▪ an institution of higher education offering courses at degree level or below (little used after 1992, when British polytechnics became able to call themselves ‘universities’) … English terms dictionary
polytechnic — [[t]pɒ̱lɪte̱knɪk[/t]] polytechnics 1) N VAR: oft in names In Britain, a polytechnic was a college where you could go after leaving school in order to study academic subjects up to degree level, or to train for particular jobs. In 1992, all the… … English dictionary
polytechnic — UK [ˌpɒlɪˈteknɪk] / US [ˌpɑlɪˈteknɪk] noun [countable] Word forms polytechnic : singular polytechnic plural polytechnics a college for people who want to study scientific or technical subjects, especially in order to train for a practical job … English dictionary
polytechnic — I. adjective Etymology: French polytechnique, from Greek polytechnos skilled in many arts, from poly + technē art more at technical Date: 1801 relating to or devoted to instruction in many technical arts or applied sciences II. noun Date: 1836 a… … New Collegiate Dictionary
polytechnic — /pol ee tek nik/, adj. 1. of, pertaining to, or offering instruction in a variety of industrial arts, applied sciences, or technical subjects: a polytechnic institute. n. 2. a school or other institution in which instruction in technical subjects … Universalium
polytechnic — pol|y|tech|nic [ˌpɔlıˈteknık US ˌpa: ] n 1.) a type of British college similar to a university, which provided training and degrees in many subjects, and existed until 1993 2.) a word used in the names of high schools or colleges in the US, where … Dictionary of contemporary English
