hospital Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a health facility where patients receive treatment
    infirmary.
  2. noun a medical institution where sick or injured people are given medical or surgical care

WordNet

Hos"pi*tal noun
Etymology
OF. hospital, ospital, F. hôpital, LL. hospitale (or perh. E. hospital is directly from the Late Latin), from L. hospitalis relating to a guest, hospitalia apartments for guests, fr. hospes guest. See Host a landlord, and cf. Hostel, Hotel, Spital.
Definitions
  1. A place for shelter or entertainment; an inn. Obs. Spenser.
  2. A building in which the sick, injured, or infirm are received and treated; a public or private institution founded for reception and cure, or for the refuge, of persons diseased in body or mind, or disabled, infirm, or dependent, and in which they are treated either at their own expense, or more often by charity in whole or in part; a tent, building, or other place where the sick or wounded of an army cared for.
Hos"pi*tal adjective
Etymology
L. hospitalis: cf. OF. hospital.
Definitions
  1. Hospitable. Obs. Howell.

Webster 1913