intern

1.

/ˈɪntɜrn/

someone who works for an expert to learn about a job

2.

/ɪnˈtʌrn/

deprive of freedom

Other forms: interned; interns; interning

Somewhere between being a student and a professional is the life of an intern, an advanced student, especially in medicine, who gets on-the-job experience.

To intern or be an intern is to leave the classroom behind and start doing part of your profession — usually, the job of being a doctor. Sometimes an intern is paid, but not always, and the pay is never great. The experience is considered payment in itself. There have been many medical TV shows that feature interns, probably because the hours are long, the job is difficult, and there are many opportunities for drama in this boot camp for doctors. Medical interns may appreciate another meaning, which means to take away someone's freedom, as in "Why did you intern the prisoners?"

Definitions of intern (/ˈɪntɜrn/)

1. noun

   someone who works for an expert to learn a trade
   synonyms: apprentice, learner, prentice

   types:

   printer's devil

   an apprentice in a printing establishment

   type of:

   beginner, initiate, novice, tiro, tyro

   someone new to a field or activity
2. noun

   an advanced student or graduate in medicine gaining supervised practical experience (`houseman' is a British term)
   synonyms: houseman, interne, medical intern

   type of:

   Dr., MD, doc, doctor, medico, physician

   a licensed medical practitioner
3. verb

   work, sometimes without pay, as an intern
   “The young doctor is interning at the Medical Center this year”

   type of:

   work

   exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity