practicum

English

WOTD – 17 May 2009

Borrowed from German Praktikum, a coinage from the neuter of Late Latin practicus (“practical”), from Ancient Greek πρακτικός (praktikós, “of or pertaining to action, concerned with action or business, active, practical”), from πράσσω (prássō, “I do”).

practicum (plural practicums or practica)

(US) A college course designed to give a student supervised practical knowledge of a subject previously studied theoretically.
- 1984 April 21, Joyce Baker, “Eromin Center Closing: A Tragic Loss”, in Gay Community News, page 5:
  Eromin has provided clinical practicum placements for students seeking advanced degrees in social service professions.
(US) A science exam in which students are questioned about specimens or other objects placed in front of them.

college course

science exam

Borrowed from German Praktikum, a coinage from the neuter of Late Latin practicus (“practical”), from Ancient Greek πρακτικός (praktikós, “of or pertaining to action, concerned with action or business, active, practical”), from πράσσω (prássō, “I do”).

practicum n (plural practica, diminutive practicumpje n)

prācticum