intern

[ in-turn ]

See synonyms for: intern interned interning on Thesaurus.com

noun

a resident member of the medical staff of a hospital, usually a recent medical school graduate serving under supervision.
Education. student teacher.

a person who works as an apprentice or trainee in an occupation or profession to gain practical experience, and sometimes also to satisfy legal or other requirements for being licensed or accepted professionally.

verb (used without object),in·terned, in·tern·ing.

to be or perform the duties of an intern.

Origin of intern

First recorded in 1825–30 for def. 1, and in 1920–25 for defs. 2, 3; from French interne “assistant doctor,” from Latin internus “inward”; see intern³

Sometimes in·terne .

Other definitions for intern (2 of 3)

intern²

[ verb in-turn; noun in-turn ]

verb (used with object)

to restrict to or confine within prescribed limits, as prisoners of war, enemy aliens, or combat troops who take refuge in a neutral country.
to impound or hold within a country until the termination of a war, as a ship of a belligerent that has put into a neutral port and remained beyond a limited period.

noun

a person who is or has been interned; internee.

Origin of intern

First recorded in 1865–70; from French interner “to send inland; confine,” verbal derivative of interne intern³

Other definitions for intern (3 of 3)

intern³

[ in-turn ]

adjectiveArchaic.

internal.

Origin of intern

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin internus “inward,” equivalent to inter- inter- + -nus adjective suffix

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for intern

intern

verb

(ɪnˈtɜːn) (tr) to detain or confine (foreign or enemy citizens, ships, etc), esp during wartime
(ˈɪntɜːn) (intr) mainly US to serve or train as an intern

noun(ˈɪntɜːn)

another word for internee
Also: interne med, US and Canadian a graduate in the first year of practical training after medical school, resident in a hospital and under supervision by senior doctors: British equivalent: house officer

mainly US a student teacher
mainly US a student or recent graduate receiving practical training in a working environment

adjective(ɪnˈtɜːn)

an archaic word for internal

Origin of intern

C19: from Latin internus internal

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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