(in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 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. （旧时英国的）理工学院（现在多已改为大学） Word Originearly 19th cent.: from French polytechnique, from Greek polutekhnos, from polu- ‘many’ + tekhnē ‘art’.